The Air Force Global Strike Command has started a funding program to support the sustainment of intercontinental ballistic missiles and bring the budgetary responsibility for missile system parts from the wing level to the major command level.Kate Blais wrote in a post published Friday that the ICBM Parts Centralized Funding Program took effect Oct. 1 and covers ICBM technical orders for parts and other items in support of the weapon system.
“My priority is to modernize how the ICBMs are maintained and sustained. This centralized funding program is part of that effort,” said Lawrence Kingsley, AFGSC director of logistics, installations and mission support.
The report said AFGSC also wants this shift in sustainment funding responsibility to help pinpoint the true requirements of the ICBM weapon system independent of unit funding availability as well as address corresponding issues in program, budget and life-cycle management.
Establishing the requirements will then eventually bring funding responsibility to U.S. Air Force headquarters to bring the ICBM program in pace with other weapon systems, according to Blais.
“What happened before was that wings had to choose between whether or not to buy a missile part or buy something to support their people,” said Daryle Fry, ICBM program analyst at AFGSC.
“As of Oct. 1 … [wing] commanders can focus more on their people and support structure and 20th Air Force won’t have to worry about advocating to command to find funding for parts.”
