The Improved Launch Control System (ILCS) was a system used by the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

's Minuteman

LGM-30 Minuteman

The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...

 II ICBM force. ILCS was a method to transfer targeting information from a Minuteman Launch Control Center

Launch control center (ICBM)

A launch control center , in the United States, is the main control facility for intercontinental ballistic missiles . A launch control center monitors and controls missile launch facilities. From a launch control center, the missile combat crew can monitor the complex, launch the missile, or relax...

 to an individual missile by communications lines. Prior to ILCS, new missile guidance would have to be physically loaded at the launch facility

Launch facility (ICBM)

A launch facility , also known as a missile silo, is an underground vertical cylindrical container for the storage and launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles . They typically have the missile some distance under the surface, protected by a large "blast door" on top...

; the process usually took hours.

History

ILCS was operational at most Minuteman II wings by . Minuteman III wings had a similar install, designated Command Data Buffer

Command Data Buffer

Command Data Buffer was a system used by the United States Air Force's Minuteman ICBM force. CDB was a method to transfer targeting information from a Minuteman Launch Control Center to an individual missile by communications lines...

, providing the newer system the potential for remote retarging.

Phaseout

ILCS was phased out in mid-1990s by the retirement of the Minuteman II force, and the deactivation or reapportioning of units to Minuteman III.

Chronology

• 1979
  • 1 Mar - 341 SMW
    341st Missile Wing
    The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
    
    's 490th Strategic Missile Squadron completes ILCS upgrades, at a cost of 365 million dollars

See also

• LGM-30 Minuteman
  LGM-30 Minuteman
  The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
  
  
• Launch control center (ICBM)
  Launch control center (ICBM)
  A launch control center , in the United States, is the main control facility for intercontinental ballistic missiles . A launch control center monitors and controls missile launch facilities. From a launch control center, the missile combat crew can monitor the complex, launch the missile, or relax...
  
  
• Command Data Buffer
  Command Data Buffer
  Command Data Buffer was a system used by the United States Air Force's Minuteman ICBM force. CDB was a method to transfer targeting information from a Minuteman Launch Control Center to an individual missile by communications lines...
  
   - Minuteman III upgrade similar to ILCS
• Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting System
  Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting System
  The United States Air Force's Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting System is a modification of the LGM-30 Minuteman LCC that provides continual monitoring and rapid retargeting of Minuteman ICBMs...
  
  (REACT)