The
United States Air Force's Missile Combat Competition is a military competition that recognizes the
intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons c ...
combat crews in the force.
History
Curtain raiser
The first missile combat competition, named CURTAIN RAISER, ran from 3–7 April 1967.
United States'
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
began the event to allow differing
intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons c ...
units to compete for the title of "Best ICBM Wing".
Olympic arena
While the second competition in 1968 was canceled, due to
SAC
SAC or Sac may refer to:
Organizations Education
* Santa Ana College, California, US
* San Antonio College, Texas, US
* St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Canada
* Students' Administrative Council, University of Toronto, Canada
* SISD Student Activiti ...
commitments in Southeast Asia, the third competition was held on 19–23 May 1969. The competition was also redesignated OLYMPIC ARENA.
Guardian Challenge
After the demise of the Cold War, the event was renamed Guardian Challenge and began to include space operations units, as well as ICBM organizations.
Global Strike Challenge
After the transfer of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (
ICBM
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons c ...
) from
Air Force Space Command to
Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides combat-ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global stri ...
on 1 December 2009, Missile Combat Competition has been rolled up under a competition which will be known as Global Strike Challenge. Global Strike Challenge is Air Force Global Strike Command's competition for Air Force ICBM and Bomber Forces. The first Global Strike Challenge took place at Barksdale AFB LA in November 2010.
Blanchard Trophy
See also
*
Guardian Challenge The United States Air Force's Global Strike Challenge is an annual competition where different sections of the Air Force compete in a series of challenges to prove their speed and readiness. Until 201 it was known as the Guardian Challenge.
See al ...
*
LGM-30 Minuteman
*
LGM-25C Titan II
References
United States Air Force
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