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After twice delaying a prior launch, the US military tested an unprotected intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday. This was the second test in less than a month. Washington publicised this testing ahead of time, an uncommon action that appears to avoid increasing conflicts mainly with Russia.
The US Air Force announced in a statement that “Air Force Global Strike Group Airmen released Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile out with 3 tests with re-entry vehicles” early September 7 from California. In the event of a war, nuclear weapons would be carried by the re-entry vehicle.
The statement read, “This missile test is part of normal and periodic actions intended to show the safety, security, dependability, and effectiveness of the US’s nuclear deterrent.” It said, “This exam is not the outcome of recent global events.
On August 16, the US Air Force correctly deployed a Minuteman III ICBM after repeatedly delaying the test to prevent escalating tensions in Ukraine and Taiwan. The only land-based ICBM in the United States nuclear arsenal is the 50-year-old Minuteman III. On three US military locations in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana, the missiles are stored in silos.
Key takeaways
- On Wednesday, the US military conducted an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile test, the second in less than a month after a previous launch was postponed twice.
- The re-entry vehicle would be equipped with nuclear bombs in the event of a confrontation.
- On August 16, the US Air Force correctly deployed a Minuteman III ICBM after repeatedly delaying the test to prevent escalating tensions between Ukraine and Taiwan.
- The Strategic Deterrence Force within the United States (Air Force Global Strike Command) includes the Minuteman III missile.
- The second test was scheduled to take place 12 days earlier, but tensions between China and Taiwan forced a postponement.
- Since Russia’s incursion in February and subsequent takeover in early March, the power facility has been constantly threatened by bombardment.
- The Minuteman III has served for 50 years and is the US nuclear arsenal’s only land-based ICBM.
- Trident submarine-launched missile systems plus nuclear warheads delivered by heavy bomber aircraft are also part of the US arsenal.
About The Incident
The Strategic Deterrence Force within the United States (Air Force Global Strike Command) includes the Minuteman III missile.
The letters LGM (Silo Launch Missile), (G) for Ground Attack, and M for Guided Missile, giving it the complete designation LGM-30G Minuteman-III.
It is one of the most potent American arsenals of missiles to launch a nuclear strike.
This test was conducted to ensure the weapon system’s readiness, efficacy, safety, and security.
The Minuteman III missile has a more than 10,000 km range.
On August 16, the United States also test-fired a Minuteman-3 missile. The second test was scheduled to take place 12 days earlier, but tensions between China and Taiwan forced a postponement.
Another Round Minuteman ICBM Attacks Declared By Pentagon
This ICBM launch will evaluate and verify the efficacy and readiness of the system, according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder made the first announcement of the missile test on Tuesday from the Pentagon.
He told reporters that this launch is a standard test, arranged long in advance & consistent with another testing.
Following treaty commitments, the U.S. informed the Russian government before the operational test. Ryder also pointed out that Hague’s international Code made the pre-launch notice of Conduct.
The missile test occurred when worries about nuclear security increased due to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and deteriorating ties between Moscow and the West.
Director of IAEA Issues "Catastrophic" Incident Warning
By stationing its forces near the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya, Russia has threatened not only to turn to nuclear escalation but also to jeopardise the security of nuclear weapons in Europe.
Since Russia’s incursion in February and subsequent takeover in early March, the power facility has been constantly threatened by bombardment.
About the Minuteman missile
Since the 1960s, the Minuteman ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) has served as the backbone of the United States’ land-based nuclear arsenal.
The Minuteman missiles have been produced in three generations. In 1962, the Minuteman I made its initial deployment. The first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to employ solid fuels—which are safer and ignite more quickly than liquid fuels—was this 17-metre, three-staged rocket. Additionally, it was the first U.S. A base for ICBMs will be subterranean silos. Minuteman I was superseded by Minuteman II between 1966 and 1973 (previous missiles were kept on aboveground launch pads).
This missile’s improved propulsion extended its range to about 13,000 kilometres (8,000 miles). Its reentry vehicle, carrying a 1.2 megaton thermonuclear warhead, was outfitted with electronic jammers and other tools to get past Soviet Union cities’ and military installations’ radar-directed antiballistic missile defences.
About Minuteman III
The 170-kiloton thermonuclear warhead was carried by each of the two or three individually targeted reentry vehicles (also known as MIRVs) that Minuteman III launched between 1970 and 1975. The missile has the Airborne Launch Control System. The Soviet Union seemed to have no target that countered Minuteman when it was originally discovered. However, after a few years, they picked up speed. The US air force has a resilient launch capability because of the airborne launch system.
Some Minuteman IIIs had three 335-kiloton warheads added to them in the 1980s, coupled with a more precise guidance system, giving them the ability to “hard-target kill” hardened ICBM silos plus command bunkers within the Soviet Union. At that time, the middle of the United States continental territory was covered by around 1,000 Minuteman II & III missiles.
The United States Air Force safely deployed a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on August 16, after postponing the test twice to prevent escalating tensions between Ukraine and Taiwan. The Minuteman III has been serving for 50 years and is the US nuclear arsenal’s only land-based ICBM.
The missiles are stored in silos at three United States military facilities in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana. Trident submarine-launched missile systems plus nuclear warheads delivered by heavy bomber aircraft are also part of the US arsenal.
