Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The U.S. military conducted a test launch of an unarmed, nuclear-capable Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) late on Nov. 5 (local time), with the missile launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
credit: U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma
The ICBM flew from California to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defence Test Site in the Marshall Islands, traveling approximately 4,200 miles (6,760 km) across the Pacific Ocean.
As with all ICBMs, the Minuteman III briefly entered space before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. While specific altitude details for this launch were not shared, the missile has a maximum altitude of 700 miles (1,120 km), which is in low Earth orbit.
Equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), the missile carried re-entry vehicles capable of reaching different targets independently, underscoring its advanced targeting capabilities.
The launch was controlled from a US Navy-operated E-6B Mercury aircraft using the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS), a backup launch system designed to ensure missile launch capabilities even if ground control centres are compromised.
The U.S. military routinely conducts these tests to demonstrate its readiness and reliability of its nuclear arsenal. This launch came shortly after North Korea’s own ICBM test, though the US Space Force clarified that this test had been months in the planning.
Space Force officials commended the success of the mission, emphasizing the readiness and professionalism of Air Force and Navy personnel, as well as the importance of these tests for national security.
This is one of several Minuteman III tests in 2024, including two previous launches in June. Such tests serve as a show of deterrence and are an essential component of US defence capabilities.