***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned U.S. Strategic Command Commander Admiral Charles Richard and U.S. Space Command Commander General James Dickinson during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this week. Senator Cramer began by noting General Richard’s comments earlier in the hearing in support of the nation’s nuclear triad and asked him about the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) weapons and B-52 unit housed at Minot Air Force Base.

“Our B-52s are incredible weapons, especially in the hands of our great airmen in Minot. I am afraid we will be risking too much and asking too much of those airmen if we take away the LRSO and get it off track. If the LRSO were cancelled or delayed beyond the service life of the legacy air launch cruise missile, do you think our air leg of the triad would be viable?”

“The short answer is no,” replied Admiral Richard. “Without an LRSO you in effect don’t have an air leg.” 

Senator Cramer then asked General Dickinson how Space Command and Strategic Command properly coordinate to protect America from its adversaries, touting North Dakota’s military installations and their capabilities in the process. General Dickinson visited North Dakota last year to tour the University of North Dakota and the Cavalier Air Space Station to view the state’s space assets and learn more about how it can contribute to our nation’s space efforts.

“In addition to the bomber wing and the missile wing at Minot, North Dakota contributes by having the 10th Space Warning Squadron at Cavalier,” asked Senator Cramer. “How do these two domains work together to enhance the credibility of U.S. deterrence against adversaries who are competing with us in every domain?”

“Our missile warning architecture is a very integrated capability within U.S. Space Command. We provide that missile warning to Strategic Command on a daily basis and we work very closely together,” answered General Dickinson. “Our daily interaction and our daily operations together is very nested and synchronized.”  

Click Here to Watch