A Minuteman III ICBM was tested by the US Space Force less than a week after the downing of a Chinese spy balloon hovering over a sensitive nuclear site in Montana.
The unarmed missile, equipped with a test re-entry vehicle, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, at 11:01 p.m. Thursday evening.
Stunning photos of the launch showed the rocket sweeping a huge bright arc across the night sky.
Officials said the launch was a routine test to “validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system.” A statement also said the launch was “not the result of current world events.”
The test comes amid heightened tensions with China after a Beijing spy balloon hovering over the US sparked a diplomatic crisis. American intelligence agencies believe the balloon, which flew over a sensitive military base in Montana, “was likely able to collect” and locate American ‘communications’.
Stunning photos of the launch showed the rocket sweeping a huge bright arc across the night sky
The unarmed missile, equipped with a test re-entry vehicle, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, at 11:01 p.m. Thursday evening
Colonel Christopher Cruise, commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, said, “This launch demonstrates the redundancy and reliability of our strategic deterrent systems while sending a visible message of assurance to allies.”
A statement from the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command said: “This test launch is part of routine and regular activities designed to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, reliable and effective in countering and defending 21st century threats.” reassure our allies.
“Such tests have already been carried out more than 300 times and this test is not the result of current world events.”
The US is considering “taking action” against China for what it calls a violation of American sovereignty. According to the State Department, the American secret service has uncovered a huge surveillance network from Beijing that stretches across 40 countries and five continents.
Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said Thursday night’s ICBM test “displays the heart of our deterrent mission on the world stage, assuring our nation and our allies that our weapons are capable and our airmen are ready and willing for peace.” around the world to defend at any time’.
The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, a route regularly used for test launches.
Officials said the test launches confirm the accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapons system and provide data to ensure continued safe and effective nuclear deterrence.
Colonel Christopher Cruise, commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, said, “This launch demonstrates the redundancy and reliability of our strategic deterrent systems while sending a visible message of assurance to allies.
“This multilateral team reflects the precision and professionalism of our command and our joint partners.”
The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, a route regularly used for test launches
The missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara, California
The missile bases within Air Fore Global Strike Command have crew members on 24-hour alert, year-round, overseeing the nation’s ICBM alert force.
The Minuteman III is an important part of the US military’s strategic arsenal.
The nuclear-capable missile has a range of more than 6,000 and can travel at speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour.
Development of the original Minuteman began in the 1950s and took its name from the American Revolutionary War’s colonial Minutemen, who were combat-ready at short notice.
The recent Chinese balloon incident has been linked by US intelligence to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s main military power. The balloon had “multiple antennas” and was “probably capable of collecting and locating communications.”
The Minuteman III is an important part of the US military’s strategic arsenal. The nuclear-capable missile has a range of more than 6,000 and can travel at speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour
“It was equipped with solar panels large enough to generate the energy needed to run multiple active sensors to gather information,” an official said.
The US said it was considering whether to take action [Chinese government] Organizations associated with the PLA that supported the balloon’s entry into US airspace.’
Air Force jets shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, sparking public outcry over Beijing’s espionage tactics.
It was first spotted on January 28 as it crossed US territory, flew briefly over Canada and then traversed several states in the continental US before crashing on February 4.
President Joe Biden gave the order for it to be shot down last Wednesday, but defense officials warned it would be safer if the falling debris no longer posed a risk to Americans on the ground.
The State Department said the launch of the balloon sent a clear message [China] that his violation of our sovereignty was unacceptable.
Minuteman III Nuclear Missile: The $7 million warhead that can travel 6,000 miles at 15,000 mph
The Minuteman III, along with the submarine-launched Trident Ballistic Missile (SLBM) and nuclear weapons carried by long-range strategic bombers, form the United States’ land-launched ICBM.
It is a strategic weapon system using an intercontinental range ballistic missile. The missiles are distributed in hardened silos to protect against attack and are connected to an underground launch control center via a system of hardened cables.
The $7,000,000 Minuteman III weighs 79,432 pounds and can travel 6,000 miles at 15,000 mph.
Development of the missile began in the 1950s and was named after the colonial Minutemen of the American Revolutionary War, who could be combat-ready at short notice.
The Minuteman III ICBM is pictured during a test launch in October 2019
The Minuteman entered service in 1962 as a deterrent weapon capable of hitting Soviet cities, with the Minuteman-II entering service in 1965 with a number of improvements to its accuracy and survivability in the face of anti-ballistic missile (AMB) systems.
In 1970, the Minuteman-III was the first deployed ICBM to feature multiple independently homing reentry vehicles (MIRVs): three smaller warheads that improved the missile’s ability to hit targets defended by AMBs.
By 1970, 1,000 Minuteman missiles had been deployed during the Cold War, but by 2017 the number had dwindled to 400 based in missile silos around Malmstrom AFB, Montana. Minot AFB, North Dakota; and FE Warren AFB, Wyoming.
Beginning in 2027, Minuteman will be gradually replaced by the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) ICBM, to be built by Northrop Grumman beginning in 2027.