New USAF ICBM Emerges; Cruise Missile Flounders

摘要

The U.S. Air Force is beginning to formulate plans for a new ICBM, while efforts to develop a new cruise missile—a higher priority only a few months ago—are stalling. The details regarding the ICBM, likely to be named the Minuteman IV, are still murky, although a development program could start in a couple of years, according to Maj. Gen. Franklin J. Blais-dell, head of the Air Force's nuclear and counterproliferation directorate. Space Command is working on the requirements document, he said, with a 2004-05 possible start date.