Kirtland Air Force Base

Kirtland Air Force Base is located in southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it shares airfield facilities with the Albuquerque International Sunport. The installation was established in 1941 as a U.S. Army airfield on the site of former private flying fields. It was renamed Kirtland Army Air Field in 1942 and transitioned to the United States Air Force in 1948. During World War II, the base functioned as a training site for bombardiers and crews of B-17, B-24, and B-29 aircraft and supported the Manhattan Project through the transport of nuclear components and personnel. In 1971, Kirtland merged with the neighboring Sandia and Manzano Bases.

The base is operated by the United States Air Force under Air Force Global Strike Command. The 377th Air Base Wing serves as the host unit, providing support for federal and private mission partners. The installation hosts the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, which is responsible for the acquisition and modernization of nuclear systems. The 58th Special Operations Wing and the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Special Operations Wing are stationed at the base, conducting aircrew training for special operations and search and rescue missions. The Air Force Research Laboratory operates its Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates at the site, and the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is headquartered there.

Kirtland occupies approximately 51,558 acres and maintains the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex, a subterranean facility for nuclear munitions. The base hosts squadrons of aircraft including the HC-130J Combat King II, MC-130J Commando II, CV-22B Osprey, HH-60G Pave Hawk, and UH-1N Huey. Research infrastructure includes laboratories for laser technology, high-power microwaves, and space vehicle development. The installation also contains Sandia National Laboratories and facilities for the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.