STRATCOM commander discusses mission, future of Global Strike

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) --  The commander of U.S. Strategic Command discussed the mission and future of Air Force Global Strike Command at an all-call here July 15.

"The skills that we have for the nuclear deterrence mission will be needed as far into the future as I can see," Gen. C. Robert Kehler said. "As long as we have nuclear weapons, it's our job to deter nuclear attack with a safe, secure and effective nuclear force. That's what we're here for."

Kehler addressed several topics, including the evolving nature of global security and how it affects the way the Air Force must meet new challenges.

"We have never faced an operating environment like the one we face today," Kehler said. "Global Strike today isn't just about being able to deliver a nuclear payload; Global Strike is also about delivering conventional payloads over global distances. I think it's important for us to be innovative and think hard about how we can apply these kinds of platforms to the country's needs."

Kehler also discussed force reduction efforts and the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START. According to Kehler, under this newest iteration of the treaty the United States must reduce its number of accountable strategic nuclear weapons, deployed delivery systems, and deployed and non-deployed delivery systems to 1,550, 700 and 800 respectively.

"We're above all three of those limits right now," Kehler said. "We need to get down there by Feb. 5, 2018."

Kehler outlined a plan to reduce the number of assets before the deadline that included getting rid of "phantom" assets such as inactive heavy bombers and empty silos, as well as reducing the number of Multiple Individually-targetable Re-entry Vehicles, or MIRVs, currently in the U.S. inventory.

Kehler also discussed his views on the current financial climate and its affect on readiness.

"I think that sequestration's impact on readiness is like an avalanche," Kehler said. "It starts out slow, but the momentum builds. The longer we reduce flying hours, the more we take money out of spare parts, the more we are digging into the kind of readiness investments we need, the more concerned I am becoming and the more impact there will be."

"What we cannot have is a hollow force," Kehler said. "I'm very concerned that if we don't take care of readiness, we will find ourselves in a position we do not want to be in."

In regards to the future, Kehler was decidedly optimistic.

"I believe that our future is not dim, I think it's very bright," Kehler said. "I think we have great opportunities in front of us to shape the future."