Los Angeles, Sep 8 : The US Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Vandenberg Space Force Base located approximately 260 km to the north of Los Angeles downtown. “An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 1:13 A.M.PDT, Sept.7 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.,” the Air Force confirmed on Twitter.
The purpose of the test was to test and confirm the security, safety as well as the effectiveness and readiness of the system of weapons and its components, the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) who supervised the test, said in an announcement on Wednesday saying “the vehicles used to reenter the ICBM traveled for approximately 4,200 miles to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands,” which provided valuable information to ensure a safe and secure nuclear deterrent.
“Such tests have been conducted at least 300 times prior to this one and this test isn’t the result of the current world events,” it noted.
Airmen from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 90th Missile Wing at F.E.Warren AFB, Wyoming, and 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, helped with launch of the test on Wednesday, AFGSC said.
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