The U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a test of an unarmed nuclear-capable long-range missile Tuesday, Air Force Global Strike Command said in a statement.
The unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched out of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 12:49 a.m. PDT, and its reentry vehicle traveled near the Marshall Islands 4,200 miles away, the Air Force said. The missile has a range of 6,000-plus miles and can travel at a speed of approximately 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kph), according to Reuters.
FORMER CENTCOM COMMANDER WANTED TROOPS TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN ‘INDEFINITELY’
“[This test was] to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent,” the Air Force said in a press release. “This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter twenty-first century threats and reassure our allies. Such tests have occurred more than 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.”
Good morning #TeamVandenberg,
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launched during an operational test at 12:53 Pacific Time (Wednesday, August, 11, 2021), at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. #MinutemanIII #GT243 pic.twitter.com/9WGnlyOGbA
— Vandenberg Space Force Base (@SLDelta30) August 16, 2022
The test was initially scheduled for Aug. 4, a spokesman for the global strike command told CNN, but was delayed due to concerns about China’s response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) visit to Taiwan.
China conducted military drills in the Taiwan Strait around the time of Pelosi’s visit to the autonomous island. The U.S. military also delayed a different Minutemen III test in April to avoid exacerbating tensions with Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
“Make no mistake — our nuclear triad is the cornerstone of the national security of our country and of our allies around the globe,” Col. Chris Cruise, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, said in the news release. “This scheduled test launch is demonstrative of how our nation’s ICBM fleet illustrates our readiness and reliability of the weapon system. It is also a great platform to show the skill sets and expertise of our strategic weapons maintenance personnel and of our missile crews who maintain an unwavering vigilance to defend the homeland.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Minuteman III is the land part of the U.S.’s nuclear triad, with the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile being the sea prong and long-range strategic bombers armed with nuclear weapons being the sky element of the trio.
