Hearing explores nuclear forces, training and missions

A recent Senate Defense Appropriations Committee hearing explored the importance of updating the nation’s nuclear forces, developing pilot training programs and advancing the Arctic mission.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) reviewed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget with Air Force (USAF) Secretary Heather Wilson and USAF Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, as a means of modernizing the nuclear triad, which is key to North Dakota’s Minot Air Force Base support for both pilot training programs and the Arctic mission for Grand Forks Air Force Base.

“Our state makes tremendous contributions to the nation’s security and is positioned to play an even bigger role,” Hoeven said. “The nuclear triad is only growing in importance as we see hostile regimes working to secure a nuclear weapon or grow their existing nuclear arsenals. That’s why it’s vital we continue to modernize our nuclear forces, like the bomber fleet and ICBMs in Minot while also replacing Minot’s helicopters to improve security.”

Hoeven, a member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, said he is working to ensure updates to the nation’s nuclear forces remain on schedule so the nation would have a strong deterrent for decades to come and advance partnerships between UND and federal agencies, creating new opportunities for the flight school’s students. Updates would also secure an Arctic mission for Grand Forks, highlighting the unique convergence of the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) research, training, and operations in the region and how the base is well-positioned to support NORTHCOM’s efforts to strengthen security in the Arctic region.