The U.S. Air Force launched a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, in a scheduled test of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
The United States Air Force carried out a planned test launch of its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile late Wednesday night (3 March, at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time).
Military officials emphasised that the test was scheduled years ago and was not triggered by any current crises.
The launch, designated GT‑255, occurred at approximately 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Without carrying nuclear warheads, the missile’s long flight over the Pacific Ocean demonstrated the enduring capability of the land‑based leg of the United States’ nuclear triad.
In a statement, Air Force Global Strike Command noted that the test “was scheduled years ago, and is not in response to world events,” highlighting the long‑term planning that characterises such evaluations.
Officials said the purpose of the mission was to verify the readiness, accuracy and reliability of the missile system and its components.
Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, explained that “GT 255 allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system,” adding that continual assessment enables improved performance across the missile fleet.
The Minuteman III has been a central element of U.S. strategic defence since its introduction in the 1970s, with hundreds of similar tests conducted over decades to monitor system health and readiness.
The Minuteman III, officially designated LGM‑30G, remains the only active land‑based intercontinental ballistic missile in the U.S. arsenal.
Embedded in underground silos across Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming, these missiles form one leg of the nation’s nuclear triad, alongside submarine‑launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.
Its range exceeds 13,000 kilometres, and the system can accommodate multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).
Air Force Global Strike Command stressed that this test not only assessed the ICBM’s performance but also that of its multiple reentry vehicles, which are primarily used to increase missile effectiveness and overcome enemy defences.
“It is critical to test all aspects of our ICBM force, including our ability to deliver multiple, independently targeted payloads with absolute precision,” said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
“This test validates the intricate synchronisation of the weapon system, from the initial launch sequence to the flawless deployment of each reentry vehicle,” he added.
The test launch comes at a time of critical geopolitical tension, as the United States remains in an escalating conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran — triggered by the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran on Saturday — that has now spread across the Middle East.
