FROM:

BOEfNG AEROSPACE COMPANY Pub1 i c Relations S e a t t l e , Washington 98124 Phone: Area 206, 773-2816

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

MINUTEMAN Intercontinental B a l l i s t i c Missile

Since 1962 the Minuteman intercontinental b a l l i s t i c missi l e system has been America's primary deterrent t o nuclear aggression. Basic t o the system a r e the 1.000

long range missiles standing ready f o r launching i n underground s i l o s from Missouri t o Montana. Supporting those missiles i s a U. 5. Air Forcelindustry team dedicated t o ~naintainingMinuteman as an e f f e c t i v e praventatlve t o large s c a l e conflict. The

Boeing Capany assembles and tests the missiles, a s s i s t s the Air Force i n trafning Minuteman crews and conducts much of the force modemizatfon which i s patterned t o meet changing s t r a t e g i c requirements. The f i r s t Minuteman ICBMs were ready f o r Air Force operational use i n December. 1962, only four years a f t a r the program f i r s t began. design-development-production-delivery This was a new record i n the

cycle of a major weapon system.

Less than three years l a t e r . 800 Mtnutetnan I missf 1 s were on a l e r t with

S t r a t e g i c Air Connnand wings located a t Malmstm Alr Force Base, Montana; Ellsworth

AFE. South Dakota; Minot AFB. North Dakota; Whitman AFB, Missouri; and a threes t a t e . 200-missile complex c e n t e ~ e da t Warren Am. Wymting.
A sixth wing, centered a t Grand Forks. North Dakota, armed with the larger and
:

more powerful Minuteman I1 misslles, became operational i n December, 1966. man I I also i s deployed in an extra SOflissils squadron near Malmstrom AFB.

MinuteWhan

t h i s squadron i n s t a l l a t i o n was completed during t h e f i r s t half of 1967, tb Minuteman force achieved i t s t a r g e t number of 1,M#) missiles. A improvement program now i n progress, called "Force Modernization," was f i r s t n announced in 1964. I t c a l l s f o r replacing Minuteman I mlsslles with Minuteman I1

and Minuteman 111, improvements in camnunications and control systems and upgrading

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the m i s s i l e s i l o s .

Boeing has assembly and checkout r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e f o r c e

modernization program. The Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e has g r e a t e r range and accuracy than i t s predecessor and an improved guidance system. distance. It can d e l i v e r a heavier payload over a g r e a t e r

Minuteman I11 incorporates a l l Minuteman I 1 improvements, and i n ad-

d i t i o n has an improved t h i r d stage and a new r e - e n t r y system, p r o v i d i n g increased accuracy and payload over t h e e a r l i e r m i s s i l e s . Boeing has d e l i v e r e d a l l of t h e s i x Minuteman wings on o r ahead of schedule. Boeing's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f a l l w i t h i n f o u r broad f i e l d s :

1.

Assembly and Manufacturing

--

M i s s i l e s a r e assembled a t BoeingE l e c t r o n i c t e s t and

operated A i r Force P l a n t 77, Ogden, Utah.

c o n t r o l equipment and i n t e r s t a g e s t r u c t u r e s (which fasten engine stages t o g e t h e r ) a r e manufactured i n S e a t t l e .

2.

--Test

F l i g h t t e s t s were made a t Cape Kennedy, and continue a t O v e r a l l system engineering t e s t s t o

Vandenberg AFB, C a l i f o r n i a .

demonstrate i n s t a l 1a t i o n , o p e r a t i o n and maintenance procedures f o r t h e weapon system a l s o a r e conducted by Boeing a t Vandenberg AFB, and a t a f u l l - s c a l e launch complex a t Boeing f a c i l i t i e s i n S e a t t l e . The Cape Kennedy Minuteman t e s t s i t e was closed f o l l o w i n g t h e f i n a l ( 9 1 s t ) Minuteman 1aunch i n December, 1970.

3.

Training

--

Boeing t r a i n s A i r Force t e c h n i c i a n s i n maintenance pro-

cedures a t Chanute AFB, I l l i n o i s .

A t Vandenberg AFB, company personnel

a s s i s t S t r a t e g i c A i r Command o f f i c e r s d u r i n g m i s s i l e t r a i n i n g launches and teach A i r Force i n s t r u c t o r s who w i l l i n t u r n t r a i n SAC crews t o operate t h e system.
4.

Base I n s t a l l a t i o n s

--

The company assembles, checks o u t and d e l i v e r s

t h e complete o p e r a t i o n a l weapon system a t Minuteman wings.

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Minuteman i s a system p r e d i c a t e d upon h i g h r e l i a b i l i t y , g r e a t c a p a b i l i t y f o r s u r v i v a l of enemy a t t a c k , maximum s i m p l i c i t y , f a s t r e a c t i o n time and major c o s t effectiveness. S e l e c t i o n o f Minuteman's s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t rockets was based on t h e o p e r a t i o n a l characteristics o f s o l i d rocket fuels

--

the elimination o f on-site propellant

h a n d l i n g equipment, and t h e l o n g storage l i f e of s o l i d f u e l s . Minuteman can remain on constant a l e r t f o r long periods, w i t h minimum maintenance, i n underground launcher s i l o s which p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n and environmental control. Operation o f t h e launchers i s from underground launch c o n t r o l capsules,

each manned by two SAC o f f i c e r s . The Minuteman concept i s designed v i r t u a l l y t o e l i m i n a t e t h e need f o r s k i l l e d manpower i n t h e f i e l d , complex checkout equipment i n o p e r a t i o n a l u n i t s , and massive q u a n t i t i e s o f spare p a r t s , s u p p l i e s and a u x i l i a r y s e r v i c i n g equipment.
I t i s con-

s i d e r a b l y l e s s expensive than i t s predecessors, A t l a s and T i t a n . The Minuteman system i s a v i t a l p a r t o f t h e n a t i o n ' s s t r a t e g i c t r i a d . This i s

t h e combination o f land-based ICBMs, sea-launched m i s s i l e s and t h e manned s t r a t e g i c bomber. An aggressor seeking t o overcome t h i s f o r c e must expend v a s t resources on both
I t i s t h i s t r i a d which i s America's g r e a t e s t de-

o f f e n s i v e and defensive weapons. t e r r e n t t o n u c l e a r aggression.

MINUTEMAN SPECIFICATIONS Minuteman I Powerpl a n t : Speed : Range : Pay1oad : Length: Three s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t engines More than 15,000 m i l e s an hour (24.135km/h) More than 6,300 m i l e s (10.137 km) Nuclear warhead Model (LGM-30A -54 ft. (16,461~1) Rodel LGM30B -55.9 ft.(17,04m) Minuteman I 1 Same Same More than 7,000 m i l e s (11.263 km) Nuclear warhead Model LGM-30F59.8 ft.(18,23 m) Minuteman I11 Same Same Same Nuclear warhead Model LGM-30G59.8 f t (18,23 m)

.-

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Minuteman I Diameter: Approximately 6 f e e t (1,83 m) a t f i r s t - s t a g e interstage structure About 65,000 pounds (29.484 kg)

Minuteman I1 Same

Minuteman I11 Same

Weight: Reaction Time: Operational Units: Deployment:

About 70,000 pounds About 76,000 pounds (34..474 kg) (31.752 kg)

May be launched i n s t a n t l y a f t e r command. Flight -- 10 launchers and a launch control center; Squadron -5 f l i g h t s ; Wing -- 3 o r more squadrons (150 o r more m i s s i l e s ) . Stored ready f o r launch i n individual "hardened" (bl a s t - r e s i s t a n t , underground) launch s i t e s dispersed throughout large geographical areas ( i .e., Wing I i s deployed throughout an area 18,000 square m i les--46.620 sq. km--in Montana). S t r a t e g i c Air Comand now has an inventory of 1,000 Minuteman missiles.

Launcher Dimensions: Approximately 80 f e e t (24,38 m) deep and 12 f e e t (3.66 m) i n diameter w i t h two underground equipment rooms around the s i l o casing extending some 28 f e e t (8,53 m) below the surface. Surface area of launch s i t e i s 2 t o 3 acres. Control Center: Buried approximately 50 f e e t (15,24 m ) below the surface, the b l a s t - r e s i s t a n t , shock-mounted capsule i s operated by two Strat e g i c Air Command o f f i c e r s . MN T M N MILESTONES I UE A October 10, 1958: February 1, 1961: Air Force announces selection of Boeing a s assembly and t e s t contractor. F i r s t launching of Minuteman a t Cape Kennedy r e s u l t s i n most successful f i r s t f l i g h t ever accomplished in United S t a t e s missile hi story. Launch from Cape Kennedy underground s i l o i s successful on second attempt. F i r s t s i l o launch exploded a f t e r f i r s t - s t a g e ignition

November 1 7 , 1961: April 12, 1962: December 11, 1962: September 24, 1964:

'First missile r o l l e d from Boeing-operated assembly f a c i l i t y a t Hill A F B , Utah.

F i r s t two Minuteman f l i g h t s ( t o t a l of 20 m i s s i l e s ) declared operational a t Malmstrom AFB, Montana. F i r s t launching of Minuteman I 1 a t Cape Kennedy r e s u l t s i n a f a u l t l e s s f l i g h t and landing i n the pre-selected t a r g e t area near Ascension Island i n the South Atlantic.

August 18, 1965:

First launching of Minuteman I1 from Vandenberg AFB underground s i l o (complete operational system demonstration) i s highly successful.

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February 19, 1966: February 24, 1966:

Minuteman Force M o d e r n i z a t i o n begins a t Wing I V Y Whiteman AFB, M i s s o u r i , where Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e s r e p l a c e e a r l i e r model. F i r s t s a l v o f i r i n g o f Minuteman conducted a t Vandenberg AFB C a l i f o r n i a . Two m i s s i l e s launched s i m u l t a n e o u s l y by SAC crew from a s i n g l e s e t o f commands. Wing V I , f i r s t Minuteman I 1 wing (150 m i s s i l e s ) , t u r n e d o v e r t o S t r a t e g i c A i r Command a t Grand Forks AFB, N o r t h Dakota. Thousandth Minuteman e n t e r s t h e s t r a t e g i c a l e r t w i t h a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e l a s t s i l o o f Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e s i n c o - l o c a t e d squadron, Malmstrom AFB. Force m o d e r n i z a t i o n completed a t Wing I V Y Whiteman AFB, M i s s o u r i . 150 Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e s i n p l a c e and on a l e r t . F i r s t f l i g h t o f 10 modernized s i l o s r e t u r n e d t o SAC a t Wing I, Malmstrom AFB under f o r c e m o d e r n i z a t i o n program. 200th Minuteman launched f r o m Vandenberg AFB over Western T e s t Range. F i r s t launch o f Minuteman I 1 1 from Cape Kennedy termed " h i g h l y successful." L a s t Minuteman 1A (LGM-30A) m i s s i l e t r a n s f e r r e d from Wing I. Only Minuteman 1B (LGM-30B) and Minuteman I 1 now comprise SAC f o r c e . F i r s t Minuteman I11 launched over Western T e s t Range by A i r Force/Boeing launch crew. Force m o d e r n i z a t i o n completed ahead o f schedule a t Wing I, Malmstrom AFB, Montana. 150 Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e s r e p l a c e Minuteman 1A. 250th Minuteman m i s s i l e launched from Vandenberg AFB, C a l i f o r n i a , o v e r Western T e s t Range. F i n a l t e s t l a u n c h conducted a t Cape Kennedy. Minuteman I11 launch was successful. Phase o u t of f a c i l i t y begins. J u s t s h o r t of '10 years. F i r s t squadron of 50 Minuteman I 1 1 d e l i v e r e d t o A i r Force a t Wing 111, Minot, N o r t h Dakota. Tenth a n n i v e r s a r y o f f i r s t Minuteman f l i g h t . F i r s t wing o f 150 Minuteman I 1 1 m i s s i l e s d e l i v e r e d ahead o f schedule and below c o s t t a r g e t a t Wing 111, Minot, N o r t h Dakota. Force m o d e r n i z a t i o n completed a t Wing 11, Rapid City, South Dakota. Minuteman I 1 r e p l a c e s Minuteman I m i s s i l e s .

December 7, 1966: A p r i l 21, 1967:

October 19, 1967: December 12, 1967: December 15, 1967: August 16, 1968: February 13, 1969: A p r i l 11, 1969: J u l y 2, 1969:

J u l y 8, 1969: December 14, 1970:

December 29, 1970: February 1, 1971: December 1, 1971: March 16, 1973: