The United States on Tuesday tested its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III off the California coast, among the ongoing strikes in the Middle East.
Referred to as “doomsday missile,” Minuteman III is Capable of carrying nuclear warheads up to 20 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The test launch was equipped with two test re-entry vehicles and was conducted on Tuesday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, the Air Force Global Strike Command said in an official statement on Wednesday.
The launch was scheduled years ago and is “not in response to world events”, it said.
“It is a key component of a data-driven program that has been in place for decades, involving over 300 similar tests designed to validate the weapon system. The data collected from these routine tests is essential for ongoing and future force development,” it said.
According to the press release, the missile was fired to “Verify the effectiveness, readiness, and accuracy,” according to the Air Force Global Strike Command.
“It allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system,” Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron said in a statement.
The Minuteman III missile is one part of America’s nuclear triad. which include the ability to launch world-destroying weapons from the land, sea, and air. The missiles are stored in silos scattered across the American West – and designed to deter nuclear armageddon, but ensuring that the US will be able to strike back if it is ever hit with an Atomic attack.
The missile can travel 6,000 miles at speeds of more than 15000 mph and strike anywhere in the world.
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