New START mock inspection

  • Published
  • By Barksdale Treaty Office
  • Barksdale Treaty Office
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  With the April 8 signing of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev, and pending the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, Barksdale is getting prepared for future inspections of its B-52s by Russian inspectors.

Ten Defense Threat Reduction Agency inspectors and their escorts visited Barksdale recently to conduct a mock on-site or "type one" inspection.

According to the treaty, which has not yet taken effect, inspectors will select three B-52s and have 15 minutes to inspect each one--combined; the inspections are limited to 30 hours. The United States will be subject to only 18 inspections annually and never more than twice in one year at a particular base.

The United States will inspect Russian bases under the same terms," said Mr. Ray Turek, Barksdale Treaty Office chief. "Prior to START, each nation had many thousands of nuclear warheads, intercontinental ballistic missiles and long-range bombers. Under terms of the new treaty, each side will reduce their strategic forces to only 700 deployed delivery systems and 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads. The treaty provides a way to verify long-range nuclear armaments and helps build trust and understanding between the U.S. and Russia."

Col. Tom Hesterman, 2d Bomb Wing vice commander, who hosted the DTRA teams, agrees.

"It is vital for Barksdale to fully comply with START because it is in the best interest of both nations to strengthen strategic stability," he said. "The treaty's obligations help reduce the risk of nuclear war and bolster international peace and security."

During the mock inspection, DTRA teams looked at three B-52s, their weapons and several empty hangars on the flightline capable of housing B-52s.

"They are no longer allowed to take measurements of the B-52's weapon stations or to inspect every bomber at the base," Mr. Turek said.

On the other hand, they are allowed to examine any weapons "captured" on the aircraft they select, he continued. For the mock inspection, DTRA teams used special equipment to confirm that training shapes found on the inspected bombers were non-nuclear.