Despite rising tensions with Russia, the US Air Force assures its upcoming Minuteman III tests are pre-scheduled, not a sudden response. These routine launches aim to verify the reliability of this aging system, crucial for US deterrence.
The US Air Force's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles will be tested twice this week at Vandenberg Space Force Base by US Air Force Global Strike Command. The tests coincide with intense tensions between NATO and Russia over the growing proxy conflict in Ukraine, but military observers said it's probably not something to get too worked up about.
Two Minuteman III ICBMs without weapons are scheduled to be launched on June 4 and 6, according to US Space Forces Command.
The US military's strategic nuclear forces have been using old, largely dependable missiles since the 1970s. These are being replaced by the Sentinel ICBM program, which is anticipated to begin operations in the middle of the 2030s. Minuteman III will continue...