WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Air Force said on Friday that it was recommended to create a separate Global Strike Command to handle nuclear assets.

    The roadmap released by senior leaders, titled Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise, also recommends a nuclear weapons center and a single process for inspections, the force said in a statement.

    "The roadmap will enable the Air Force to effectively secure, maintain, operate and sustain our nation's nuclear capabilities and expertise," said Michael B. Donley, the secretary of the Air Force. "It will also correct long-standing systemic and institutional weakness in our stewardship of nuclear matters."

    Donley also said that the document could lay the foundation "for reinvigorating the force nuclear enterprise to reestablish the confidence in our ability to provide nuclear deterrence to our nation and our allies."

    The plan came after several blunders of the Air Force in handling nuclear assets including mistakenly flying six nuclear weapons across the country last year, leading to resignation of senior military leaders and a review into the Pentagon's management of nuclear weapons.

    Currently, the U.S. nuclear missiles are overseen by the Air Force's Space Command while nuclear bombers by the Air Combat Command.

    According to the roadmap, the new command led by a three-star general, if approved, should start operating by next September at an undisclosed location.