The U.S. military will test launch an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, a Pentagon official said Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters that the Air Force Global Strike Command will launch the unarmed Minuteman III ICBM test early Wednesday morning from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
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He described the test as “routine” and said it was “scheduled far in advance and consistent with previous tests,” noting that the United States informed the Hague and the Russian government in accordance with treaty obligations.
The military launched a previous test in early August, though it had been delayed amid the heightened tensions with China as its aggression toward Taiwan continued its escalation. The postponement was announced days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) traveled to Taiwan, which sparked a significant escalation in rhetoric from Chinese officials in addition to a dramatic military show of force following her departure.
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“The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the security and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent,” Ryder added. “As you may recall, the last test launch was Aug. 4, which had been delayed. So for those wondering about timing, the two launches moved closer together due to the delays from the Aug. 8 sliding to the right, and again, tomorrow’s launch was scheduled far in advance.”
