The USA tested the Minuteman III missile: the power of the weapon, what it is capable of

The United States conducted a test launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The test took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The launch took place at 10:56 Moscow time. The launched ICBM was not equipped with a live projectile.

This is one of two test launches this week, the second is scheduled for June 6. The program’s goal is to “demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.”

The US conducts test launches of Minuteman III several times a year

The US Air Force carried out the launch in April last year. The rocket, randomly selected from arsenals in Montana, flew 6.76 thousand kilometers over the Pacific Ocean. On the Vandenberg Base website emphasizedthat the test launch is part of an effort to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent and its effectiveness “in countering 21st century threats and reassuring allies. Similar tests have been conducted more than 300 times, and this test is not a result of current world events.”

Also, the training launch of the Minuteman III ICBM was carried out in February and September. The missile was not equipped with a warhead. According to Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder, the United States notified Russia of the tests as part of bilateral agreements.

The last rocket launch took place on November 1, 2023. Then Minuteman III was blown up over the Pacific Ocean due to some anomaly. At the same time, the Pentagon said that, despite the problems, the test launch of the missile provided them with data to maintain the combat readiness of the ICBMs.

American ballistic missiles called junk

Military expert Vasily Dandykin said that Minuteman III ICBMs cannot compete with Russian weapons.

According to him, during this time Russia has replaced several generations of ICBMs and began testing a complex with the Sarmat ICBM. Russian specialists have also developed the Avangard hypersonic complex.

The American publication Military Watch Magazine also noted that the United States is not able to replace outdated Minuteman III installations and may completely abandon the deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles due to the fact that Russian developments of a new generation for delivering a strategic nuclear strike have proven to be more effective.

In turn, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives Roger Wicker and Senator Debra Fischer are convinced that American nuclear weapons are outdated. They cited the example of the Minuteman III ICBM program almost 60 years ago.