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FROM: BOEfNG AEROSPACE COMPANYPub1 i c Rela t ionsSeat t le , Washington 98124Phone: Area 206, 773-2816BACKGROUND INFORMATION

MINUTEMANI n t e rc o n t i n en t a l B a l l i s t i c M i s s il eSince 1962 the Minuteman i n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l b a l l i s t i c m i s s i l e s ys te m h a s been

America 's p rimary de t e r re n t t o nuc l e a r a ggres s ion . Ba s ic t o t h e syste m a r e the 1.000long range m i s s i l e s s t a nd ing re ady f o r l aunc h ing i n underground si los from Missourit o Montana.

Suppor t i ng t hose mi s s i l e s i s a U. 5. Air Force l indus t ry team dedica ted to~ n a i n t a i n i n gMinuteman a s an e f fe c t i v e p ra ve n ta t l ve t o l a rg e sc a l e c on f l i c t . TheBoeing Capany assembles and tes t s t h e m i s s i le s , a s s i s t s t h e Air Force i n t r a f n i n gMinuteman crews and conducts much of th e fo rc e mo dem izatfo n which i s pa tte rn ed t omee t changing s t r a t e g ic requi rements.

The f i r s t Minuteman ICBMs were ready for Air Force opera t iona l use i n December.1962, only fou r yea rs a f t a r t he program f i r s t began . Th i s was a new record i n t h edesign-development-product ion-del ivery cy cle of a major weapon system.

Less t ha n t h r e e y e a r s l a t e r . 800 Mtnutetnan I missf 1 s were on a l e r t wi thS t r a t e g i c Air Connnand wings lo ca ted a t M al m st m Alr Force Base, Montana; El l sworthAFE. South Dakota; Minot AFB. North Dakota; Whitman AFB, Missouri; and a three-s t a t e . 200-mis si le complex c e n t e ~ e d t Warren Am. Wymting.

A si x th wing, cen tere d a t Grand Forks. North Dakota , armed with t h e la rg er and:more powerful Minuteman I1 m is s ll e s , became op er ati on al i n December, 1966. Minute-

man I I al so i s deployed i n an ex tr a SO fl is si ls squadron near Malmstrom AFB. Whanth i s squadron in s t a l l a t i o n was comple te d du r ing t h e f i r s t ha l f of 1967, tb Minute-man fo rc e achieved i t s t a rg e t number of 1,M#) m i s s i l e s .

An improvement program now i n progre s s , c a l l e d " Force Mode rn i za ti on ," was f i r s tannounced in 1964. I t c a l l s f o r r e p l a ci n g Minuteman I mlss l l e s wi th Minuteman I 1and Minuteman 111, improvements in camnunications and control systems and upgrading

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th e m i s s i l e s i l o s . B o ei ng has as se mb ly and c he c k ou t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e f o r c em odern i za t i on p rog ram .

The Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e h as g r e a t e r r an g e and a cc ur ac y t h a n i t s p r ed e ce ss o rand an improved guidance system. It c a n d e l i v e r a h e a v i e r p a y l o a d o v e r a g r e a t e rd is tance. M inuteman I11 i n c o r p o r a t e s a l l M in ute ma n I 1 improvements , and i n ad-d i t i o n ha s a n i m pr o ve d t h i r d s t a g e a nd a new r e - e n t r y s ys te m, p r o v i d i n g i n c r e a s e da c cu r ac y an d p a y lo a d o v e r t h e e a r l i e r m i s s i l e s .

B oe ing has de l i ve re d a l l o f t he s i x M inuteman w ings on o r ahead of schedu le .B o ei ng '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 b ro ad f i e l d s :1. Assembly and Manufactur ing - - M i s s i l e s a r e a s se mb le d a t B o e in g -

o p e r a t e d A i r Force P l an t 77, O gden, U tah. E l ec t r on i c t e s t andc o n t r o l e qu ip me nt and i n t e r s t a g e s t r u c t u r e s ( w hi ch f a s te n e n g in es t a g e s t o g e t h e r ) a r e m a nu fa ct ur ed i n S e a t t l e .

2. -e s t -- F l i g h t t e s t s w e re made a t Cape K ennedy, and con t i n ue a tV andenberg AFB, C a l i f o rn i a . O v e ra l l sys tem eng inee r i ng t e s t s t od e m o n s t r a t e i n s t a l 1a t i o n , op e ra t i on and m a in tenance p rocedures f o rth e weapon system al s o a re conducted b y Boeing a t Vandenberg AFB,and a t a f u l l - s c a l e l au n ch complex a t Bo ein g f a c i l i t i e s i n Se a t t l e .The Cape Kennedy Minuteman te s t s i t e was c l os ed fo l l ow in g t he f i n a l(91st) Minuteman 1aunch i n December, 1970.

3 . T r a i n i n g -- B oe in g t r a i n s A i r F o rc e t e c h n i c i a n s i n m ai nt en an ce p r o -c ed u re s a t C ha nu te AFB, I l l i n o i s . A t Vandenberg AFB, company pe rs on n ela 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 l au n ch e s a nt e ac h A i r F o r ce 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 c re ws t o o p e r a t ethe sys tem.

4. B a s e I n s t a l l a t i o n s -- The company assembles, checks o u t and de l i v e rsth e comple te o pe ra t io na l weapon sys tem a t M inuteman w ings .

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Minuteman i s a s ys te m p r e d ic 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 rs u r v i v a l o f 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 t i m e and m a j o r c o s te f f e c t i v e n e s s .

S e l e c t i o n o f M in u te m an 's s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t s was b a se d on t h e o p e r a t i o n a lc h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f s o l i d ro c k e t f u e l s - - t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f o n - s i t e p r o p e l l a n th a n d l i n g eq uip me nt, and t h e l o n g s to r a g e l i f e o f s o l i d fu e l s .

M inuteman can r em a i n on co ns t an t a l e r t f o r l ong pe r i ods , w i t h minim um m a in -t en an ce , i n u n de rg ro u nd la u n c h e r s i l o s w h ic h p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n an d e n v ir o n m en t alc o n t r o l . O p e r a t i o n o f t h e la u n c h e r s i s fr o m u nd e rg ro un d l a u n c h c o n t r o l c a p s ul es ,each manned by two SAC of f icers.

The Minutem an c o nc ep t i s d es ig ne d 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 dm anpower i n t he f i e l d , com plex checkou t equ ipm ent i n op e r a t i on a l u n i t s , and m assi veq u a n t i t i e s o f s p ar e p a r t s , s u p p l ie s a nd a u x i l i a r y s e r v i c i n g e qu ip me nt. I t i s con-s i d e r a b l y l e s s e x p e ns iv e th a n i t s p re d ec es so rs , A t l a s and T i t a n .

The Minutem an s ys te m 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 . T h i s i st he com b i na t i on o f l and - based ICBMs, sea- launched m i ss i l e s and t he manned s t r a t e g i cbomber. An aggressor s eek in g t o overcome th i s f o r ce must expend va s t resource s on bo to f fe ns i v e and de fe ns i ve weapons . It i s t h i s t r i a d wh ic h i s A me ric a's g r e a te s t de-t e r r e n t t o n u c l e a r ag gr es sio n.

MINUTEMAN SPECIFICATIONSMinuteman I Minuteman I 1

Powerp l an t : Three so l i d - p r op e l l a n t Samer o c k e t e n g i n e sSpeed : More th a n 15,000 m il e s Samean hour (24.135km/h)Range : More th an 6,300 m i l e s More tha n 7,000(10.1 37 km) m il e s (11.263 km)Pay1 oad : Nuclear warhead Nuclear warheadLeng th : Model (LGM-30A -54 f t . Model LGM-30F-(16,461~1) Rode l LGM- 59.8 ft .( 18 ,2 3 m)30B -55.9 ft.(17,04m)

Minuteman I11Same

SameSame

Nuclear warheadModel LGM-30G-59.8 f t (18,23 m)

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Diameter:Minuteman I Minuteman I 1Approximately 6 f e e t Same( 1 , 8 3 m ) a t f i r s t - s t a g ei n t e r s t a g e s t r u c t u r e

Minuteman I11Same

Weigh t: About 65,00 0 pounds About 70,000 pounds About 76,00 0 pounds(29.48 4 kg) (31.752 kg) (34..474 kg)Reaction Time: May be launched i n s ta n t ly a f t e r command.Op e r a t i o n a l Un i t s : F l i g h t -- 10 l aunchers and a l aunch con t ro l cen te r ; Squadron --5 f l i g h t s ; Wing -- 3 or more squadrons (150 or more m is s i l e s ) .Deployment: Sto red ready f o r launch i n i n d iv i d u a l " ha rd en ed " ( b l a s t - r e s i s t a n t ,u n de rg r ou n d) l au n ch s i t e s d i sp e r se d t h r o ug h o u t l a r g e g e o g r a p h ic a la re as ( i e . , Wing I i s dep loyed th roughout an a rea 18 ,000 squa re

m i les--46.620 sq. km - - i n Montana) . S t r a te g ic Air Comand nowhas an inventory of 1,000 Minuteman missi les.Launcher Dimensions: Ap proximately 80 fe e t (2 4,38 m) deep and 12 f e e t (3.66 m) i nd i a m e t e r w i t h two underground equipment rooms around th e s i l ocas ing ex tend ing some 28 f e e t (8 ,53 m) below the sur fac e . Su r f a c ea r e a of la un ch s i t e i s 2 t o 3 a cr e s .Control Center : Bur ied approx ima te ly 50 fee t (15 ,24 m ) b e l o w t h e su r f a c e , t h eb la s t - r e s i s t a n t , shock-mounted capsu le i s ope ra ted by two S t ra -t e g i c Air Command o ff ic e rs .

MINUTEMAN MILESTONESOctober 10, 1958: Air Force announces se le c t io n of Boeing a s assembly andt e s t c o n t r a c t o r .February 1, 1961: F i r s t launching of Minuteman a t Cape Kennedy re s u l t s i n mosts u c c e s s f u l f i r s t f l i g h t e v e r a cc om p lis he d in U nite d S t a t e sm i s s i l e hi s t o r y .November 1 7 , 1961: Launch from Cape Kennedy undergroun d s i l o i s success fu l onsecond a t tempt . F i r s t s i l o lau nch e xp lo ded a f t e r f i r s t - s t a g e i g n iApri l 12, 1962: 'First m i ss i l e r o l l e d fro m B o ei ng -o p er at ed a ssem b ly f a c i l i t y a t H i l

A F B , Utah.December 11, 1 96 2: F i r s t two Minutem an f l i g h t s ( t o t a l o f 20 m i s s i l e s ) d e c la r e d o pe r -a t i on a l a t Malmstrom AFB , Montana.September 24, 1964: F i r s t launc hing of Minuteman I 1 a t Cape Kennedy re s u l t s i n a f a u l tl e s s f l i g h t and l a n di ng i n t h e p r e - s e le c t e d t a r g e t a r e a n e a rAscens ion I s l and i n t h e So u t h A t l a n t i c .August 18, 1965: First launching of Minuteman I1 from Vandenberg AFB undergrounds i l o ( co m p le te o p e r a t io n a l s ys te m d em o n s tr a ti o n) i s h i g h l y s u c c e s s

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Feb ruar y 19, 1966 :

Feb rua ry 24, 1966:

December 7, 1966:

A p r i l 21, 1 96 7:

Octo ber 19, 1967:

December 12, 1967:

December 15, 1967:

Augu s t 16, 1968:

Feb ruar y 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, 197 0:

F e b r u a r y 1, 1971:December 1, 1971:March 16, 1973:

M in ut em an F o r c e M o d e r n i z a t i o n b e g i n s a t W ing I V Y Whiteman AFB,M i s s o u r i , w he re M inu te ma n I 1 m i s s i l e s r e p l a c e e a r l i e r m od el.F i r s t s a l v o f i r i n g o f M in ut em an c o n du c te d a t V an de nb erg AFBC a l i f o r n i a . Two m i s s i l e s l a u n c he d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y b y SAC c r ewf ro m a s i n g l e s e t o f commands.Wing V I , f i r s t M inuteman I 1 w i ng ( 1 5 0 m i s s i l e s ) , t u r n e d o v e rt o S t r a te g i c A i r Command a t Grand Forks AFB, No r th Dako ta .T ho usa nd th M inuteman 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 ft 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 - lo c a t e d sq ua dro n,Malmstrom AFB.F o r ce m o d e r n i z a t i o n c o mp l et e d a t W ing I V Y Whiteman AFB, M is so u r i .150 Minuteman I 1 m i s s i l e s i n p l ac e and on a l e r t .F i r s t f l i g h t o f 10 m od ern iz ed s i l o s r e t u r n e d t o SAC a t Wing I,Malms trom AFB under fo rc e mo de rn i za t ion p rogram.200 th Minuteman la unche d f r om Vandenberg AFB ove r WesternTes t Range.F i r s t l a u n c h o f M i nu te ma n I 1 1 f ro m Cape K en ne dy t er m e d " h i g h l ys u c c e s s f u l . "L as t M inu teman 1A (LGM-30A) m i s s i l e t r a ns fe r r e d f rom Wing I. O n l yMinuteman 1B (LGM-30B) a nd Min ute ma n I 1 now comprise SAC force.F i r s t M i n u t e m a n I11 l aunched over Wes te rn Tes t Range by A i rForce /Boe ing laun ch crew .F o rc e m o d e r n i z a t i o n c o m pl e te d a he ad o f s c h e d ul e a t W ing I,Ma lmst rom AFB, Montana. 150 Minut eman I 1 m i s s i l e s r e p l a ceMinuteman 1A.2 5 0 t h M in ut em an m i s s i l e l a u n c h e d f r o m V an de nb er g AFB, C a l i f o r n i a ,over Wes te rn Tes t Range .F i n a l t e s t l a u n c h c o n d u c t e d a t Cape Ke nn ed y. M in ut em an I11 l a u n c hwas s u c ce s s fu l . Phase o u t o f f a c i l i t y b e g i n s. J u s t s h o r t o f'10 years .F i r s t s qu ad ro n of 50 M in ute man I 1 1 d e l i v e r e d t o A i r F o rc e a t Wing M i n o t , N o r t h D a ko ta .T en th a n n i ve r sa r y o f f i r s t M inuteman f l i g h t .F i r s t wi n g o f 150 M in ute man I 1 1 m i s s i l e s d e l i v e r e d ahead o f s c he da nd b el o w c o s t t a r g e t a t W ing 1 1 1, M i n o t , N o r t h Da ko ta .F o r c e m o d e r n i z a t i o n c o m pl e te d a t W in g 11, R a p i d City, SouthDakota . M inu teman I 1 rep lac es M inu teman I m i s s i l e s .