The United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) successfully conducted an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on November 5, 2024. The test showcased the readiness and reliability of U.S. nuclear forces amid ongoing global strategic competition.
The test Minuteman III missile, equipped with multiple test reentry vehicles, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The missile traveled nearly 7,000 kilometers to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) in the Marshall Islands, demonstrating the missile’s accuracy and effectiveness. The test site, located on Kwajalein Atoll, is equipped with advanced sensors and telemetry systems that collect data on the missile’s performance during its terminal phase.
“RTS is honored to be the nation’s only long-range land impact site providing our strategic partners a safe environment and truth in testing for the continued development of the ICBM modernization efforts,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Casel Rumfelt, RTS range director.
The 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 modern threats and reassure U.S. Allies and Partners. The Air Force reiterated that the test was scheduled years in advance and not tied to any specific world event with such tests having occurred more than 300 times.
The test involved a joint team of AFGSC Airmen and Navy aircrew. The Airmen controlled the missile launch from aboard an Airborne Launch Control System on a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft operated by the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron out of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. This method of launch validated the survivability and flexibility of the U.S. ICBM force, ensuring it remains a credible deterrent.
“The U.S. nuclear enterprise is the cornerstone of security for our Allies and Partners around the globe,” said Col. Chris Cruise, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander.
The Minuteman III, a key component of the U.S. nuclear triad, has been in service since the 1970s and continues to undergo modernization to maintain its effectiveness. The missile can carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, enhancing its deterrent capability. As the U.S. continues to face evolving threats, maintaining the readiness and reliability of its nuclear forces remains a top priority. The Minuteman III ICBM, with its proven track record and ongoing modernization, is an integral part of this strategy.