US ICBM test on Tuesday verifies they are “ready to defend the nation”

The United States Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an “unarmed” Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Tuesday at 11:01 p.m. PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. The missile was equipped with two test re-entry vehicles.

This launch, designated GT 255, was scheduled years ago and is “not in response to world events,” the Air Force said in a press statement. “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 performance of the weapon system. The data collected from these routine tests is essential for ongoing and future force development.”

“GT 255 allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron. “By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire ICBM fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad.”

This test not only focused on the performance of the ICBM but also the performance of its multiple reentry vehicles, which are primarily used to increase missile effectiveness and overcome enemy defenses, the Air Force said.

During the test, the ICBM's two reentry vehicles traveled thousands of miles to a pre-determined target at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This long-range flight allows engineers and weapons experts from the 377th Test and Evaluation Group (TEG) to collect invaluable data on the missile's accuracy and reliability, verifying that every component of the ICBM weapon system performs as designed. The program's primary goal is to evaluate the operational capability of the Minuteman III, ensuring the United States maintains a technically sound and dependable weapon system.

“Test launches are the most visible and vital way we verify our capabilities and validate the performance of our systems,” said Air Force Col. Dustin Harmon, 377 TEG commander. “These tests confirm their unmatched ability to support this critical mission and provide crucial data that ensures our systems remain ready and reliable.”

“The data we gather ensures our long-range strike capabilities are not just a theoretical concept, but a proven, reliable, and lethal force, ready to defend the nation at a moment's notice,” said Air Force Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

The current ICBM force consists of 400 Minuteman III missiles located at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D.