U.S. Air Force Conducts ICBM Test Launch, Reaffirms Nuclear Readiness Amid Sentinel Program Delays
- Victor Nwoko
- May 21
- 2 min read
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — The U.S. Air Force successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) early Wednesday as part of a routine test designed to validate the reliability and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
The nuclear-capable missile, which was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, traveled at speeds of 15,000 miles per hour before reaching a designated test site in the Marshall Islands, 4,200 miles away. While unarmed, the Minuteman III is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to any location on the planet.
Officials emphasized that the launch was a scheduled operation and not a response to current geopolitical events. General Thomas Bussiere, commander of the U.S. Global Strike Command, stated, “This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad.”
The Minuteman III missile system, which dates back to the 1970s, remains a central component of the U.S. nuclear triad — alongside stealth bombers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Although the Air Force is in the process of transitioning to the next-generation Sentinel missile system, the modernization effort has faced significant delays and funding challenges.
Originally scheduled for full deployment by 2039, the Sentinel program may now be delayed until at least 2050. Despite these setbacks, the Air Force has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the Minuteman III arsenal until the Sentinel system achieves operational readiness.
“The Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent until full capability is achieved with the Sentinel program,” the military said in a statement.
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 21, 2025
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