An intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM) was launched successfully by the United States Air Force in California. Instead of a live thermonuclear warhead, the unarmed missile was equipped with a “test re-entry vehicle”.
The missile, dubbed “Minuteman III,” was launched at 3:36 a.m. PDT (6:36 a.m. EDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB) in California. Monday’s successful testing of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a “key element” of the security of the United States and its allies, the Air Force said. [1]
Lt. Col. Tytonia Moore of the 90th Missile Wing, based out of the Francis E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, said in a statement, “With these launches, we not only verify our processes and the ICBM(Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)weapon system, we provide a visual to the world that the Minuteman III is capable of striking pretty much anywhere with extreme precision”.
The Minuteman III missiles are the only land-based ICBM in service in the U.S. The country currently has 450 Minuteman III missiles in missile silos scattered around three missile wing commands. These include Malmstrom AFB in Montana, Minot AFB in North Dakota and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, RT.com reported.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the “ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational credibility of the Minuteman III and ensures the United States’ ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.”
Sources:
http://www.afgsc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123442530
The world does not need this.
“security”
oh yeah the world need this. america should always be a step ahead of russia, china, and other countries or state that wanted to grab power of the world