The Future of Malmstrom AFB is Strong, Daines’ Sentinel Update

Remember how people used to talk about the potential of losing Malmstrom Air Force Base and how big of an economic hit that would be to Great Falls and Montana? You shouldn't hear that talk anymore. The future of Malmstrom is strong.

That's what Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and I talked about early Wednesday morning before Montana Coffee in DC. Senator Daines updated our radio listeners about the very important and massive Sentinel Missile System upgrade here in Montana.

When it comes to the Sentinel Missile upgrade, Daines recently visited Malmstrom AFB and met with the leadership. He says this will be a massive construction project here in Montana that is vital to US national security. The whole program to replace the aging nuclear missile systems will cost in the billions for the whole country, with a major chunk of that taking place here in Montana.

Senator Daines: "In one of the parts of my briefing I had at Malmstrom was a classified briefing that we went into the SCIF to talk about China's threat, to look at what capabilities China is building out with their military. And Aaron, I got to tell you, something that should be keeping us all up at night, it's looking at the rapid advancement of the Chinese military what they are doing also in their nuclear mission, and that's why what we're doing there in Montana is so important."

After delays and cost overruns during the Biden Administration, Senator Daines says he is pleased with the new bottom-up approach taken by the Trump Administration. He also says he is very impressed with the leadership at Malmstrom.

Senator Daines: "So often these massive military projects are driven by the top brass at the Pentagon, and with all due respect truly to the top brass, oftentimes they can be disconnected from the realities on the ground. And that's why your best leaders in the military, your best leaders in a business, are the ones who are in closest touch with the folks on the ground."

Daines also praised the airman at Malmstrom, and referenced the friendly competition with our friends in Wyoming and North Dakota.

Senator Daines: "By the way, Great Falls and Malmstrom competes with FE Warren in Wyoming and Minot in North Dakota. They have a friendly competition between the three bases that have the ICBM nuclear mission. And Montana-Malmstrom- consistently ranks as the number one of those three bases. And they currently have the trophy. They do a scoring competition every year. Guess who's got the trophy right now? Malmstrom Air Force Base."

Here's the full chat with Senator Daines from Wednesday morning:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steve Daines (@stevedaines)