Air Force Bases

Nuclear Weapons Center

On March 31, 2006, the Air Force established the Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, the unit which oversees both the 377th Air Base Wing and 498th Armament Systems Wing. The NWC is on the east side of Kirtland AFB, N.M.

The center's mission is to ensure safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapon systems to support the National Command Structure and the Air Force war-fighter.

The Vision of the NWC is to be the Air Force's Center of Excellence for all nuclear weapon systems activities.

NWC strategic principle
Provide war-winning nuclear capabilities ... on time, on cost

Strategic goals
· Maintain nuclear weapons system surety through timely and credible processes

· Enable the development and implementation of nuclear technology to maintain air, space and information dominance

· Sustain war-winning nuclear capabilities to ensure operational readiness and effectiveness

· Provide the work force with career development and progression opportunities

· Maintain and provide a quality work facility/environment

· Sustain a healthy, fit, safe, and ready work force

The 377th ABW is the host unit at Kirtland AFB. It was activated on Jan. 1, 1993, when the Air Force Materiel Command assumed responsibility for operating the base from the Air Mobility Command.

Munitions maintenance remains a primary mission of the base. The 498th Munitions Maintenance Group provides this support through by two squadrons--the 898th Munitions Squadron at Kirtland AFB and the 896th Munitions Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. The squadrons perform in-depth maintenance on Air Force and Department of Energy assets from around the world. Their objective is to deliver all munitions and support to the correct location on time and in prime operating condition.

The 377th Air Base Wing remains in a constant state of readiness and personnel are continually deployed. The wing also has a significant wartime mobility requirement in various mobility specialties. More than 1,000 people are trained and ready for deployment to any destination at any time, with our primary AEF commitments in AEF-5 and AEF-9.

The 377th Air Base Wing furnishes the talent, resources, equipment and facilities to support the Kirtland AFB community--active duty members, retirees, dependents and civilians. That support includes supply, finance, medical care, housing, civil engineering, fire protection, administrative support, personnel services, legal assistance, transportation, security and law enforcement.
Our fire protection duties include crash and rescue support for the adjacent Albuquerque International Sunport and Sandia National Laboratories.