US test-fires two Minuteman III ballistic missiles to show nuclear force readiness

News, US June 9, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. military test-fired two unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) this week. Conducted on June 4 and June 6, 2024, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The missile tests were part of the Air Force Global Strike Command’s routine operations and were explicitly stated to be independent of current world events.

The reentry vehicles of the Minuteman III missiles traveled approximately 4,200 miles, landing at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. These vehicles, which carry nuclear warheads, are designed to detach from the missile, traverse space, and reenter Earth’s atmosphere to reach their targets.

These missile tests come at a time when Washington has solidified its position as a crucial ally to Ukraine, which has been resisting Russian invasion forces since 2022. Additionally, the U.S. serves as Taiwan’s most significant military supporter. President Joe Biden has reassured the island of continued military backing in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Second US ICBM test launch into the Pacific over 3 days. Like the previous launch, this Minuteman III delivered a single reentry vehicle to the Kwajalein atoll. https://t.co/DOcpYRbion

The flight demonstrated “leveraging dominance in an era of strategic competition.” pic.twitter.com/b1hEGw2QER
— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) June 6, 2024

In a separate demonstration of military strength earlier this week, an American B-1B strategic bomber dropped a precision-guided bomb over the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea sending hundreds of trash-filled balloons toward South Korea.

Despite the sensitive timing of the ICBM tests, the Air Force Global Strike Command emphasized that these operations were not influenced by current world events.

Head of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, Col. Chris Cruise, emphasized the importance of these tests in his statement. “Today’s test launch is just one example of how our nation’s ICBMs, and the professional Airmen who maintain and operate them, demonstrate the readiness and reliability of the weapon system. It showcases our commitment to deterrence as we stand on continuous alert, 24/7/365,” he stated in the June 4 announcement.

In service since the 1970s, the Minuteman III system was initially expected to serve for just a decade. However, it remains in service nearly 50 years later, with plans to continue until the 2030s.

This missile system, capable of delivering nuclear warheads over vast distances, forms a critical part of the U.S. nuclear triad, which includes land-based missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers. Despite its age, the Minuteman III continues to play a vital role in national defense, demonstrating the enduring reliability and readiness of America’s nuclear forces

This extended use has prompted calls for modernization, especially following an earlier incident in which an unarmed ICBM was intentionally destroyed due to an anomaly during a test.

The Air Force plans to introduce its next-generation ICBM, the Sentinel, though the program faces delays and escalating costs. Initially slated for earlier deployment, the Sentinel’s first test flight is now anticipated for February 2026, according to the Air Force’s budget documents.