The United States Air Force has test-fired one of its most powerful nuclear-capable missiles, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and the missile travelled approximately 6,700 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean before striking a test target in the Marshall Islands.
Officials said the launch was part of a routine verification programme designed to ensure the reliability and readiness of America’s nuclear deterrent. The Minuteman III is one of the three pillars of the United States’ nuclear triad, alongside submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bomber aircraft.
The Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying nuclear warheads across vast distances. Key characteristics include:
Around 400 Minuteman III missiles remain on active alert, deployed in underground silos across Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. Each missile is designed to be launched by a two-person crew operating from a secure underground command centre. Both operators must simultaneously turn launch keys before the weapon can be fired — a safeguard intended to prevent unauthorised use.
The nickname “doomsday missile” is linked to the broader command system used to control nuclear weapons. During the recent test, the launch command was transmitted through systems associated with the Boeing E-6B Mercury, an airborne command post sometimes referred to as the “doomsday plane.”
AFGSC Airmen & Guardians supported an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM
The aircraft acts as a flying communication hub capable of issuing nuclear launch orders even if ground command centres are destroyed during a major conflict. This system ensures that US leadership can maintain control of nuclear forces under extreme wartime conditions.
Once launched, the Minuteman III rapidly accelerates into the upper atmosphere using solid-fuel rocket engines. The missile then separates into multiple stages as it climbs, discarding parts of the rocket to reduce weight and increase speed. At its peak trajectory, the missile travels outside Earth’s atmosphere, following a ballistic arc similar to a projectile.
The data collected from these routine tests is essential for ongoing and future force development
Near the end of its flight, the warhead re-enters the atmosphere at extremely high speeds, generating intense heat before descending toward its target. The entire journey from launch to impact can take around 30 minutes, leaving little time for an adversary to respond.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
