Recently, the U.S. Space Force, America’s newest military service branch, in coordination with the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command, tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The ICBM was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California and splashed down at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, traveling over 4,200 miles. The silo-launched Minuteman III is always on alert 24/7, in fact the ICBM hasn’t had a day off since 1962.
These ICBM’s have been playing an important role in deterring threats from other nuclear states for decades. During the launch, they also tested a new fuse, which would allow the Minuteman III to work until 2030.
The minuteman is safe, secure, and effective – exactly what America needs to keep its citizens and allies safe from global threats.