U. S. Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The command said the launch was intended to check the readiness of the land-based component of America’s nuclear forces.
The launch took place on May 20 at 00:01 Pacific Time, corresponding to 10:01 Moscow time, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. U.S. command stressed that the test had been planned several years in advance and was not related to the current international situation.
According to the U. S. Air Force, the launch was a comprehensive check not only of the missile itself, but also of the personnel responsible for its maintenance and operation. Specialists tracked the flight trajectory, engine performance, guidance system and the functioning of the reentry vehicle.
The command noted that the launch confirmed the condition and readiness of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as the ability of all elements of the system — from operators to the missile itself — to carry out the assigned mission.
Lieutenant Colonel Carrie Ray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, said the test makes it possible to verify the full operational profile of Minuteman III and confirm the reliability of the system’s performance.
The data obtained during the launch will be transferred to the U. S. War Department, the Department of Energy and U. S. Strategic Command. It will be used to analyze the missile’s condition, the quality of its maintenance and its further service life.