On the 9th, the US military test-fired the Minuteman 3, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), one of the three major nuclear forces.
The test launch came one day after North Korea first unveiled an ICBM presumed to use solid fuel at a military parade on the 8th.
The U.S. Air Force Earthspheric Strike Command said in a press release on the 10th (local time) that it test-launched an ICBM ‘Minutman 3’ equipped with a test reentry vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:01 pm the previous day.
“This test launch is part of a routine and cyclical effort to demonstrate that the U.S. nuclear deterrent is safe, stable, reliable, and effective to deter 21st-century threats and reassure allies,” the command said.
The command, however, drew a line, saying, “There have been more than 300 such test launches in the past,” and that “this test launch is not the result of current global events.”
“The test launch is our first step on the world stage, assuring our nation and allies that our weapons are capable and that our Air Force is ready and willing to immediately defend peace around the world,” said Earthspheric Strike Commander Thomas Busier in a statement. It shows the essence of the deterrence mission.”
According to the command, the test-launched ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled about 4,200 miles (about 6760 km) to Kwajalin Atoll in the Marshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean.
“Such test launches verify the accuracy and reliability of ICBM weapon systems, providing valuable data to continue ensuring a safe, reliable and effective nuclear deterrence,” the command said.
“The test launch is the culmination of months of preparation and cooperation across multiple Air Force agencies,” the Air Force said.
The Minuteman 3 is a strategic asset that is considered one of the three major nuclear powers of the United States, along with a nuclear submarine equipped with a submarine-launched ballistic missile and a B-52H bomber.
The U.S. Air Force’s nuclear warfare command, Earthsphere Strike Command, oversees ICBMs and strategic bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress.
Meanwhile, in a report titled “Strategic Nuclear Forces” published on the 2nd, the U.S. Congressional Research Service reported that as of January this year, the three major nuclear forces—ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers—have 1,420 nuclear warheads, It said it possesses 659 nuclear launch equipment.
Of these, 400 Minuteman 3s were deployed at three locations where Chinese “reconnaissance balloons” recently passed: Malmstrom Base in Montana, Minot Base in North Dakota, and Warren Base in Wyoming.
The US military plans to develop the next-generation ICBM ‘Sentinel’ (LG-35A Sentinel) to replace the Minuteman 3 by the mid-2030s.
(Washington = News 1)
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.