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Missile launch control center

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the LCC Equipment Building housing the backup diesel-electric generator and emergency supplies). An escape hatch 3-ft in diameter is located at the far end of the LCC. The escape hatch and associated tunnel are constructed to withstand weapon effects and allow personnel egress in the event of damage to the vertical access shaft. The tunnel is sand-filled and the sand will fall into the LCC if the hatch at the bottom of the tunnel is opened. Essential LCC launch equipment and communications gear, along with the missile combat crew, are located in a shock isolated compartment suspended within the outer structure. The room is steel and suspended as a pendulum by four shock isolators (see picture below).
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Squadron Command Posts (SCPs) serve as command units for the remaining squadrons within the wing, and report directly to the wing command post. The ACP doubles as SCP for the squadron it is located within. The remainder of the LCCs (16) are classified as primary LCCs. Four primary LCCs are located within each squadron and report to their respective command post.
419:(Emergency War Order) which links the squadron command posts (CPs). One of the squadron command posts (CPs) is also the wing CP. These two voice circuits work like a party line with all LCCs connected simultaneously. Thus, it is not possible for any of the Combat Crews to have private conversations. The term "EWO" used here is not to be confused with an actual 618:(MAF), previously known as the Launch Control Facility (LCF), is the above-ground component. It is "soft" or not able to withstand nuclear explosions. It consists of a security control office, dining room, kitchen, sleeping areas for the security forces stationed there (and occasional maintenance troops), garages for various vehicles, and other facilities. 333:
Console, the main launch console), the ALOC (Alternate Launch Officer Console), the Control Monitor Group (monitored the missile), and several other pieces of equipment. The lowest level, level 3, held communications equipment, the two battery backup supplies, the sewage lift station, the motor-generator, and several other pieces of equipment.
475:. This was an upgrade from the ILCS (Improved Launch Control System) capsules at the 341 MW that date to the late 1970s, and from the CDB capsules at the 90th and 91st missile wings. This was a major upgrade. The two launch control officers now sit side by side and must turn four launch keys to initiate a launch. 408:
missile silo) communication with the Combat Crew will always be necessary in order to properly authenticate (prove who you are). Under extraordinary circumstances it may be necessary to communicate with a flight security squad that is dispatched to the LF, usually to investigate a perimeter security alarm.
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The outer structure of the LCC itself is cylindrical with hemispherical ends. Its walls are of steel-reinforced concrete and approximately 4.5 feet thick. It is normally accessed from the LCF/MAF by a freight-size elevator. A blast door permits entry into the LCC from the tunnel junction (adjoining
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The Minuteman Combat Crew has voice communications capability with all the LFs of the flight which it commands. Under ordinary circumstances this is almost always used to coordinate with maintenance crews on-site at an LF. If the maintenance crew is performing a site penetration (entry into the
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Titan II had a three-story LCC dome. The first level was the crew's living area and contained a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a small equipment area that housed an exhaust fan and a water heater. The second level was the launch control area and held the LCCFC (Launch Control Complex Facility
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There are four configurations of the LCC, differing primarily in the amount and location of communications equipment. Functionally, there are three LCC designations. One Alternate Command Post (ACP) LCC is located within each Minuteman wing and serves as backup for the wing command post. Three
263:, or relax in the living quarters (depending on the ICBM system). The LCC is designed to provide maximum protection for the missile combat crew and equipment vital to missile launch. Missile silos are common across the midwestern United States, and over 450 missiles remain in 388:
s) within the flight. The Combat Crew monitors message traffic from higher headquarters to all the other four flights in its squadron, and has the ability to countermand launch attempts initiated by any other flight in its squadron.
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The Titan LCCs held four crew members: the Missile Combat Crew Commander (MCCC), the Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander (DMCCC), Ballistic Missile Analyst Technician (BMAT), and the Missile Facilities Technician (MFT).
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There were two types of Titan II sites: standard, and ACP (alternate command post) sites. ACPs had all of the equipment that one would find on a standard site plus additional communication equipment.
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Due to modern conventional weapons, missile launch control centers are becoming rarer in the US, and it is expected that the number of missiles will stay at 450 Minuteman III.
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LCCs were non-REACT modified CDB LCCs. Instead of replacing the command and control equipment, the 'old' Minuteman CDB C2 system was modified for the 50 Peacekeeper ICBMs.
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and can execute an authenticated EWO for any flight of Minuteman missiles in the wing. It can also countermand a launch attempt by any flight in any squadron in the wing.
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and has the ability to take control of and remotely launch the Minuteman missiles of any other flight in its squadron, in the event of receipt of an authenticated
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The Minuteman LCC is an underground structure of reinforced concrete and steel of sufficient strength to withstand weapon effects. It contains equipment and a
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and the flight designated in the EWO fails to execute its ICBM fire mission contained therein. One of the wing's Squadron Command Posts is designated a
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command post aircraft. This included EC-135A, EC-135C, EC-135G, and EC-135L aircraft. Today, the ALCC mission is performed by airborne missileers from
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comprise each squadron. Each flight directly controls ten Minuteman missiles remotely. Each flight is commanded from a Launch Control Center, or
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message from the National Command Authority. The same term is used to denote both this circuit and the message transmitted over the
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of two officers capable of controlling, monitoring, and launching the 10 Minuteman missiles in unmanned launch facilities (
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at Malmstrom AFB, MT until both were shut down. (19 August 1998 for the 564th, 30 September 1998 for the 321st.)
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Minuteman III Launch Control, Oscar Zero Missile Alert Facility at the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site near
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which links the five Combat Crews (LCCs) that comprise the squadron. There is also a voice circuit called the
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The Minuteman LCC differs from previous missile systems in that it only held room for two personnel, the
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Each Combat Crew also has access to commercial telephone lines for ordinary civilian communications.
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upgrade. The Netlink system brought internet access underground for missile combat crews.
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at Whiteman AFB, MO. The overall layout of the LCC did not change through the upgrade to
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Message traffic over the LF, HVC, and EWO voice circuits are transmitted via the
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setup at Ellsworth AFB) this equipment is above ground ("topside") in the MAF.
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From 1967 to 1998, the ALCC mission was performed by United States Air Force
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conducts a tour of the Launch Control Center at the Titan Missile Museum
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As of 2006, all Minuteman LCCs were modified to handle the LCC
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being the first to completely remove the system components.
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Control room (and its support facilities) for missile silos
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Intercontinental ballistic missiles of the United States
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Sealed Authenticator System safe with two crew locks
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For example, 1029:United States nuclear command and control 609: 215:Learn how and when to remove this message 197:Learn how and when to remove this message 490: 487:Typical Minuteman Missile Alert Facility 482: 348: 344: 226: 90:of all important aspects of the article. 670:Defense Satellite Communications System 339: 1011: 921:""LCC Netlink", High Frontier Journal" 863:Post-Attack Command and Control System 840:Emergency Rocket Communications System 503:in the mid-1990s and used only at the 286:is the MSB for the 91st Missile Wing. 273: 86:Please consider expanding the lead to 697:Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander 526:(CDB) was a configuration for early 499:The B/CDB capsules were upgraded to 259:can monitor the complex, launch the 255:. From a launch control center, the 135:adding citations to reliable sources 106: 59: 18: 576:625th Strategic Operations Squadron 249:intercontinental ballistic missiles 13: 982:U.S. National Park Service article 713: 662:Air Force Satellite Communications 14: 1040: 975: 811:Command Data Buffer configuration 600:Launch Control Equipment Building 594:Launch control equipment building 365:consists of either three or four 34:This article has multiple issues. 804: 792: 780: 768: 756: 744: 732: 725: 708:Francis E. Warren Air Force Base 495:Abandoned Missile Alert Facility 111: 64: 23: 682:Hardened Intersite Cable System 580:United States Strategic Command 572:Air Force Global Strike Command 556:Airborne Launch Control Centers 550:Airborne Launch Control Centers 507:at Grand Forks AFB, ND and the 478: 455: 432:Hardened Intersite Cable System 323: 146:"Missile launch control center" 122:needs additional citations for 78:may be too short to adequately 42:or discuss these issues on the 945: 926:. Afspc.af.mil. Archived from 913: 887: 829:Airborne Launch Control Center 823:Airborne Launch Control System 561:Airborne Launch Control System 88:provide an accessible overview 1: 991:with detailed information on 955:. Afmc.af.mil. Archived from 880: 851:Ground Wave Emergency Network 693:Missile Combat Crew Commander 648:(SACCS) - formerly known as 450:carbon block surge arresters 278:All LCCs are dependent on a 7: 816: 704:ICBM SHF Satellite Terminal 518: 10: 1045: 775:Art work at Foxtrot-01 LCC 687:Voice Dial Lines 1 & 2 621: 538:at Minot AFB, ND, and the 534:at FE Warren AFB, WY, the 511:(the "odd squad") of the 355:Cooperstown, North Dakota 253:missile launch facilities 895:"Eyeballing ICBM Launch" 835:Continuity of government 787:Art work at Hotel-01 LCC 634:Communications equipment 297:Alternate Command Post ( 995:launch control centers. 664:(AFSATCOM), using both 640:Primary Alerting System 304:Squadron Command Post ( 616:Missile Alert Facility 610:Missile Alert Facility 509:564th Missile Squadron 496: 488: 413:Hardened Voice Channel 358: 236: 494: 486: 446:Electromagnetic Pulse 394:Squadron Command Post 352: 345:Launch Control Center 241:launch control center 230: 425:Primary Alert System 340:Minuteman facilities 280:missile support base 131:improve this article 959:on 19 December 2014 739:LCC tunnel junction 524:Command Data Buffer 421:Emergency War Order 398:Emergency War Order 382:Missile combat crew 274:General information 257:missile combat crew 987:2006-06-28 at the 933:on 29 October 2008 540:351st Missile Wing 528:Minuteman missiles 513:341st Missile Wing 505:321st Missile Wing 497: 489: 465:341st Missile Wing 359: 237: 1019:Missile launchers 993:Minuteman missile 536:91st Missile Wing 532:90th Missile Wing 473:91st Missile Wing 469:90th Missile Wing 402:Wing Command Post 225: 224: 217: 207: 206: 199: 181: 105: 104: 57: 1036: 969: 968: 966: 964: 949: 943: 942: 940: 938: 932: 925: 917: 911: 910: 908: 906: 891: 808: 796: 784: 772: 760: 748: 736: 267:(USAF) service. 220: 213: 202: 195: 191: 188: 182: 180: 139: 115: 107: 100: 97: 91: 68: 60: 49: 27: 26: 19: 1044: 1043: 1039: 1038: 1037: 1035: 1034: 1033: 1009: 1008: 989:Wayback Machine 978: 973: 972: 962: 960: 951: 950: 946: 936: 934: 930: 923: 919: 918: 914: 904: 902: 893: 892: 888: 883: 819: 812: 809: 800: 799:Blast Door Pins 797: 788: 785: 776: 773: 764: 761: 752: 749: 740: 737: 728: 716: 714:Peacekeeper LCC 695:(MCCC) and the 636: 624: 612: 596: 552: 521: 481: 458: 347: 342: 326: 289:Three types of 276: 221: 210: 209: 208: 203: 192: 186: 183: 140: 138: 128: 116: 101: 95: 92: 85: 73:This article's 69: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1042: 1032: 1031: 1026: 1021: 1007: 1006: 1001: 996: 977: 976:External links 974: 971: 970: 944: 912: 885: 884: 882: 879: 878: 877: 872: 866: 860: 854: 848: 843: 837: 832: 826: 818: 815: 814: 813: 810: 803: 801: 798: 791: 789: 786: 779: 777: 774: 767: 765: 762: 755: 753: 750: 743: 741: 738: 731: 727: 724: 715: 712: 689: 688: 685: 679: 673: 659: 653: 643: 635: 632: 623: 620: 611: 608: 595: 592: 551: 548: 520: 517: 480: 477: 457: 454: 346: 343: 341: 338: 325: 322: 317: 316: 309: 302: 275: 272: 223: 222: 205: 204: 119: 117: 110: 103: 102: 82:the key points 72: 70: 63: 58: 32: 31: 29: 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1041: 1030: 1027: 1025: 1022: 1020: 1017: 1016: 1014: 1005: 1002: 1000: 997: 994: 990: 986: 983: 980: 979: 958: 954: 948: 929: 922: 916: 900: 896: 890: 886: 876: 873: 870: 867: 864: 861: 858: 855: 852: 849: 847: 844: 841: 838: 836: 833: 830: 827: 824: 821: 820: 807: 802: 795: 790: 783: 778: 771: 766: 759: 754: 747: 742: 735: 730: 729: 726:Photo gallery 723: 721: 711: 709: 705: 700: 698: 694: 686: 683: 680: 677: 674: 671: 667: 663: 660: 657: 654: 651: 647: 644: 641: 638: 637: 631: 629: 619: 617: 607: 605: 601: 591: 589: 588:Looking Glass 585: 581: 577: 573: 569: 564: 562: 558: 557: 547: 545: 541: 537: 533: 529: 525: 516: 514: 510: 506: 502: 493: 485: 476: 474: 470: 466: 462: 453: 451: 447: 442: 438: 435: 433: 428: 426: 422: 418: 414: 409: 405: 403: 399: 395: 390: 387: 383: 378: 376: 372: 368: 364: 356: 351: 337: 334: 330: 321: 314: 311:Primary LCC ( 310: 307: 303: 300: 296: 295: 294: 292: 287: 285: 281: 271: 268: 266: 262: 258: 254: 250: 246: 242: 234: 229: 219: 216: 201: 198: 190: 187:December 2014 179: 176: 172: 169: 165: 162: 158: 155: 151: 148: –  147: 143: 142:Find sources: 136: 132: 126: 125: 120:This article 118: 114: 109: 108: 99: 89: 83: 81: 76: 71: 67: 62: 61: 56: 54: 47: 46: 41: 40: 35: 30: 21: 20: 961:. Retrieved 957:the original 947: 935:. Retrieved 928:the original 915: 903:. Retrieved 901:. John Young 898: 889: 875:The Cold War 717: 701: 696: 692: 690: 684:lines (HICS) 627: 625: 615: 614:A Minuteman 613: 599: 597: 584:E-6B Mercury 565: 554: 553: 523: 522: 500: 498: 479:REACT-B LCCs 459: 456:REACT-A LCCs 448:damage with 443: 439: 436: 429: 416: 412: 410: 406: 401: 393: 391: 385: 379: 374: 370: 366: 362: 361:A Minuteman 360: 335: 331: 327: 324:Titan II LCC 318: 312: 305: 298: 293:LCCs exist: 288: 279: 277: 269: 265:US Air Force 244: 240: 238: 232: 211: 193: 184: 174: 167: 160: 153: 141: 129:Please help 124:verification 121: 93: 77: 75:lead section 50: 43: 37: 36:Please help 33: 846:Game theory 720:Peacekeeper 578:(STOS) and 574:'s (AFGSC) 96:August 2011 1013:Categories 963:9 December 937:9 December 881:References 672:satellites 471:, and the 157:newspapers 39:improve it 699:(DMCCC). 367:squadrons 291:Minuteman 284:Minot AFB 80:summarize 45:talk page 985:Archived 905:June 20, 899:Cryptome 817:See also 658:(MEECN) 652:(SACDIN) 519:CDB LCCs 231:A guide 871:(SLFCS) 865:(PACCS) 859:(MEECN) 678:(SLFCS) 666:Milstar 628:Netlink 622:Netlink 530:at the 501:REACT-B 371:flights 369:. Five 261:missile 233:(right) 171:scholar 853:(GWEN) 842:(ERCS) 831:(ALCC) 825:(ALCS) 604:Wing 2 568:EC-135 467:, the 173:  166:  159:  152:  144:  931:(PDF) 924:(PDF) 642:(PAS) 544:REACT 461:REACT 178:JSTOR 164:books 965:2014 939:2014 907:2018 718:The 668:and 598:The 363:wing 313:PLCC 150:news 417:EWO 375:LCC 306:SCP 299:ACP 245:LCC 133:by 1015:: 897:. 452:. 434:. 427:. 386:LF 377:. 239:A 48:. 967:. 941:. 909:. 357:. 243:( 218:) 212:( 200:) 194:( 189:) 185:( 175:· 168:· 161:· 154:· 127:. 98:) 94:( 84:. 55:) 51:(

Index

improve it
talk page
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lead section
summarize
provide an accessible overview

verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Missile launch control center"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
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intercontinental ballistic missiles
missile launch facilities
missile combat crew
missile
US Air Force
Minot AFB
Minuteman

Cooperstown, North Dakota
Missile combat crew

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