May 21, Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA – The U.S. Air Force successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday morning as part of a scheduled test of the country’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The missile, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, traveled at a speed of approximately 15,000 miles per hour before reaching a test site in the Marshall Islands, 4,200 miles away, according to military officials.
The Minuteman III, a Cold War-era missile system first deployed in the 1970s, remains a key component of the U.S. nuclear triad. While the Air Force plans to replace it with the next-generation Sentinel system, development delays have extended the timeline for full deployment.
“This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the U.S. Global Strike Command.
The Air Force emphasized that the launch was routine and unrelated to current geopolitical tensions. “These tests are planned well in advance and are not a reaction to world events,” the service said in a statement.
Originally, the Air Force aimed to retire the Minuteman III fleet by 2039. However, persistent delays in the Sentinel program could push that deadline to at least 2050, Bloomberg reported. Despite this, the Air Force maintains that the Sentinel is progressing and that the Minuteman III will remain a reliable deterrent in the interim.
The launch serves as a demonstration of the United States’ ongoing commitment to maintaining a credible and effective nuclear defense while transitioning to next-generation capabilities.
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