F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE - The Peacekeeper missile defense system is nearing its last days.

Created in the late 1970s and becoming fully operational in 1988 with a squadron of 50 missiles, the Peacekeeper served as a frighteningly powerful deterrent to nuclear aggressors against the United States and its allies. Located far inland in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado, the Peacekeepers have assured mutual destruction against any enemy, even in the event of a sneak attack.

It was this deterrence that helped end the Cold War and prevented any future nuclear attacks, thus earning the missile system its name as a peacekeeper, supporters say.

"Dismantling the Peacekeeper is exactly the right thing to do," said Col. Mike Carey, commander of the 90th Space Wing, located at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. "Its deactivation is a victory for deterrence."

The Peacekeeper, or LGM-118A, is being phased out as part of a mutual nuclear arms reduction effort between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The entire Peacekeeper squadron will be deactivated by mid-September. Military officials expect the smaller and newer Minuteman III missile system to take its place.

On Tuesday, media representatives were allowed to view one of three remaining missile sites in rural Wyoming and witness the removal of the re-entry and guidance systems, including the 10 Mark 21 re-entry vehicle warheads. The media group also visited one of three underground command centers where the missiles are targeted and controlled. There are now only two active Peacekeepers remaining.

Should the order come from President Bush to launch the missiles, a complicated series of verifications must be completed by missileers and verified by at least one other underground command center, said Cpt. Warren Neary.

"Each Peacekeeper is equipped with 10 warheads," said Lt. David Perez, a missileer. "Each warhead is programmed with its own re-entry system and is capable of hitting a separate target" anywhere in the world.

"We know what the targets are," Perez said. "Targets can and do change, even at the last minute, though that's very unlikely."

Launch control facilities are located separate from the missile silos. During most of the year, a missile silo appears to be no more than a thin, white pole that serves as a sensor, surrounded by a security fence. When the sensor detects movement, a nearby center reacts to the silent alarm and sends security guards to inspect. Most of the time, sensors are triggered by rabbits, the wind or tumbleweeds, Perez said.

The control center PAPA, located near Albin, consists of an above-ground security facility as well as a command capsule located 60 feet below ground.

"Our launch control facilities are capable of being completely self-sufficient for months at a time," said Lt. Col. David Bliesner, commander of the 400 Missile Squadron.

The underground complex is protected by two 8-ton blast doors and is accessed by an elevator.

Missileers work in teams of two and stay underground for 24-hour shifts. It is their job to monitor the missiles, report security alarms, translate incoming coded messages and fire the missiles if called upon by the president.

"Ultimately, our job is to launch nuclear weapons," said Lt. Amy Mihalik, one of two missileers coming off duty at the time. "When we get the order to launch, we can turn keys within a very few minutes."

Security prohibits revealing specific details, but missileers are trained to be fast and thorough. Even though the Peacekeeper system is nearly deactivated, none of the 35 to 40 crew members are able to relax or cut corners.

"All of our remaining missiles must be ready to launch at any time, up until the last missile is taken out," Bliesner said. "Once the launch order has been verified by two different launch commands, there is no possibility of recall."

Thankfully, the Peacekeepers have never been called upon to launch against any enemies.

"I believe that deterrence works," Bliesner said. "Nobody wants to have to execute a mission. We all understand the seriousness of our duty."

For now, the U.S. Air Force is focusing on the Minuteman III missile system. Each Minuteman III is capable of carrying three warheads and traveling almost anywhere in the world in 30 minutes. The LGM-30 Minuteman III will be able to provide the same kind of nuclear deterrence that the Peacekeeper did, even though they carry just a fraction of the destructive power.

"The world is a much more complicated place (than it was during the Cold War)," said Maj. Gen. Frank Klotz, commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Force Space Command and commander of U.S. Strategic Command at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. "The number of threats is more varied."

Assistant State Editor John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.