The USA navy test-launched one other unarmed nuclear-capable missile final evening (Nov. 6).
The launch occurred from Vandenberg Area Pressure Base in California at 11:01 p.m. native time (2:01 EDT or 0601 GMT on Nov. 6). A workforce of U.S. Air Pressure and U.S. Navy personnel oversaw the launch, which despatched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg to the U.S. navy’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Protection Take a look at Web site within the Marshall Islands southeast of Japan.
Like all ICBMs, the missile flew into house earlier than reentering Earth’s ambiance. It is unknown how excessive the Minuteman III on this explicit take a look at flew, because the U.S. navy hardly ever publicizes such information. Nevertheless, based on a U.S. Air Pressure truth sheet, the Minuteman III has a most altitude of 700 miles (1,120 kilometers), which places it properly into low Earth orbit. For comparability, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites orbit at round 342 miles (550 km).
The missile within the take a look at was outfitted with “a number of targetable reentry autos,” based on a U.S. Area Pressure assertion, which means it’s able to deploying impartial warheads that may maneuver as they make their approach by the ambiance towards their targets. On this take a look at, the missile’s reentry autos traveled some 4,200 miles (6,760 km) earlier than impacting their targets on the Reagan Take a look at website within the distant Kwajalein Atoll.
The Boeing-made Minuteman III was the world’s first ICBM to have this a number of reentry automobile functionality (also referred to as A number of Independently-targetable Reentry Car, or MIRV), based on the Nationwide Museum of the U.S. Air Pressure, and the primary U.S.-made ICBM to make use of a strong gas propulsion system.
Associated: How intercontinental ballistic missiles work (infographic)
The command to launch the missile was despatched from aboard a U.S. Navy-operated Boeing E-6B Mercury plane working the Airborne Launch Management System (ALCS). This technique permits crews of the ALCS plane to launch missiles whereas airborne even when ground-based launch management facilities are disabled and serves as a “final line of protection and redundancy program for the nation’s nuclear command and management,” based on a U.S. Air Pressure assertion.
U.S. Area Pressure leaders praised the success of the take a look at and the personnel that made it potential. “This Minuteman III take a look at launch exemplified the mission readiness, agility, and professionalism of the personnel at Vandenberg, World Strike Command, and the U.S. Navy,” stated Col. Dorian Hatcher, Area Launch Delta 30 deputy commander, within the U.S. Area Pressure assertion.
“Each take a look at of this deterrent system at Vandenberg underscores the nation’s sturdy capabilities and highlights the indispensable assist our Airmen and Guardians present to make sure nationwide safety.”
Whereas the take a look at occurred inside days of the newest North Korean ICBM launch that noticed the reclusive nation’s missiles attain a document altitude, the Area Pressure’s assertion says the take a look at was the “end result of months of preparation.”
The U.S. navy examined one other two Minuteman III missiles in June 2024, launching them inside two days of each other. Such assessments are carried out repeatedly as a method of deterring America’s adversaries and making certain the nation’s nuclear arsenal is dependable and able to launch.
