The 341st Maintenance Group strives in its everyday duties to achieve one primary goal: To support the warfighter with the maximum number of missiles on alert.
The Air Force has made significant strides and commitments in its efforts to extend the service life of the ICBM force with nearly $6.2 billion committed to life-extension programs. The result is tangible improvements to the combat capability of Malmstrom's Minuteman IIIs, none of which could be accomplished without the hard work of group's 520 maintenance troops. Those current and future improvements aim to extend the service life of the Minuteman III through 2020 and include:
Propulsion Replacement Program (PRP): this program re-manufactures all three Minuteman III solid rocket motors to repair age-related degrades. It replaces all booster inter-stage ordnance and associated flight control hardware. This program made its initial test flight in November 1999 and is fully funded.
Guidance Replacement Program (GRP): This program modernizes and enhances supportability for the missile guidance system. The first GRP was installed Aug. 3, 1999. The deployment will take several years and is scheduled to conclude in 2009.
Propulsion System Rocket Engine (PSRE) Life-Extension Program: The low-thrust liquid propulsion system provides post-boost maneuvering for the Minuteman III re-entry system. The life-extension program also replaces and refurbishes six components and assemblies to correct age-related deficiencies. This program is also fully funded.
Environmental Control System Extension Program (ECS): This program modernizes and provides supportability through 2020 for the ECS in the Minuteman III launch facilities and missile alert facilities.
The group oversees the helicopter maintenance flight and the quality assurance section. The helicopter maintenance flight oversees contracted maintenance for eight UH-1 helicopters supporting the wing's critical nuclear security mission and also provide search and rescue capabilities.
The quality assurance section provides the maintenance group commander with technical proficiency, vehicles, equipment and missile facility condition assessments, special management inspections, and program management.
341st Missile Maintenance Squadron
The 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron maintains the immediate launch readiness of 150 Minuteman III ICBMs and 15 missile alert facilities spread over a 13,800-square mile complex. They replace limited life components, remove and replace missiles, reentry systems and guidance sets; repair security, command and control, electrical systems and environmental control systems. Technicians also conduct periodic maintenance inspections and perform corrosion control work to sustain launch facilities and missile alert facilities. They maintain the largest conventional munitions stockpile in the command. The Communications flight provides information technology resources to operate and maintain command and control systems for Malmstrom's 150 Minuteman III ICBMs, the Passive Space Surveillance System, data networks and meteorological equipment.
341st Maintenance Operation Squadron
The 341st Maintenance Operation Squadron supports all maintenance activities affecting 150 Minuteman III launch facilities and 15 missile alert facilities. The squadron plans and monitors production efforts of all the maintenance technicians, and conducts all ancillary and technical training, ensuring job proficiency and mission readiness. They provide back shop maintenance in seven diverse sections: electronics laboratory, aircraft aerospace ground equipment, pneudraulics, mechanical, vehicles, equipment and power, refrigeration and electrical systems. The 341st MOS also ensures readiness of Air Force Global Strike Command's largest nuclear-certified vehicle fleet valued at $17M. The squadron provides weapons system technical expertise and oversees programming and budget execution for the 341st Maintenance Group.
