LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – In a move meant to showcase and test the United States nuclear forces’ readiness, military officials plan to launch an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California next week.
An element of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces, the Minuteman III is under the control of Air Force Global Strike Command.
The Minuteman weapons system, conceived in the 1950’s and first deployed in the early 1960’s, is made up of ballistic missiles with intercontentinental range kept in silos to protect against attack.
The ICBM silos are connected to an underground launch control center monitored around-the-clock by launch crews consisting of two officers, according to the USAF website.
“The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent,” Air Force Global Strike Command said in a news release announcing the test launch.
This test launch, which officials described as routine, was scheduled years in advance, is consistent with previous test launches and will “verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system.”
Since the weapon system’s inception, modernization programs have developed new versions of Minuteman that have expanded targeting options and sharper accuracy.
There are, according to USAF, 400 Minuteman Missiles located at various Space Force Bases around the country.
“In accordance with standard procedures, the United States will transmit a pre-launch notification pursuant to the Hague Code of Conduct, and notify the Russian government in advance, per our existing bi-lateral obligations,” the release noted.
The test launch from north Vandenberg is scheduled between 11:01 p.m. Pacific time on Feb. 18 to 5:01 a.m. Pacific time on Feb. 19.
