A fiery streak lit up the California sky as the U.S. Air Force conducted an early morning test of an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile. The Air Force Global Strike Command says the missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base northwest of Los Angeles at 2:42 a.m. Wednesday. The ICBM's re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles (6,759 kilometers) over the Pacific to a target in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. An Air Force statement says such tests are scheduled years in advance to verify the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system, and are not a response or reaction to world events or regional tensions. The test was conducted by a team from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyo.<doc-sep>A fiery streak lit up the California sky as the U.S. Air Force conducted an early morning test of an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile. The Air Force Global Strike Command says the missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base northwest of Los Angeles at 2:42 a.m. Wednesday. The ICBM’s re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles over the Pacific to a target in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. An Air Force statement says such tests are scheduled years in advance to verify the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system, and are not a response or reaction to world events or regional tensions. The test was conducted by a team from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Associated Press<doc-sep>A Minuteman III missile sporting a mock warhead blasted off early Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base for the second test launch of the month. The unarmed three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile roared out of its underground silo on North Base at 12:40 a.m., the opening of a six-hour window. Tests like the one that occurred Thursday involve tracking the re-entry vehicle as it travels more than 4,200 miles to a predetermined target, typically near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. "It is our mission at the 30th Space Wing to provide robust and efficient range capabilities for the nation, and to do so safely and effectively," said Col. Kris Barcomb, the 30th Operations Group commander who also gave the final OK for launch. "The Western Range plays an integral role in national security, and our ICBM test launch program helps maintain the credibility of our nuclear deterrent,” Barcomb said. “Launching two Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles one week apart is a true testament to the capabilities of Team Vandenberg." Thursday’s test came after another successfully occurred May 1 at Vandenberg, home to the Western Range which monitors just-launched rockets and missiles for safety reasons. “The test demonstrates the United States’ nuclear deterrent is modern, robust, flexible, ready and appropriately tailored to deter 20st century threats and reassure our allies,” Air Force Global Strike Command representatives said. The Air Force has 400 nuclear-tipped Minuteman III missiles sitting on alert. In addition to a task force from the F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming base, where the missile was randomly selected, members of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, which is located at Vandenberg, also participated in the mission by installing test-unique equipment. That includes sensors to track the weapon during the flight and ordnance to destroy the missile if it veers off course and toward populated areas. “These ICBM professionals always make the difficult look easy,” said Col. Dave Kelley, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. “This culminates months of effort that began in the missile fields where they removed this hardware from its alert mission, cataloged every piece and part, and shipped it to California for this test.” Launch manifests for ICBM tests are scheduled years in advance with preparations occurring months ahead of time. The Air Force also said the scheduling of test launches is not related to real world events, such as those involving North Korea or Iran. “The opportunity for a task force to execute multiple launches in a week doesn’t happen very often, and this has been a tremendous experience for our team,” said Maj. Travis Hilliard, task force commander. “Ultimately, these launches demonstrate America's capability to deter our adversaries and assure our allies through a safe, secure and effective ICBM force." Vandenberg's testing of the weapons designed to carry nuclear warheads regularly draws opposition. “At a time when the U.S. has been busy withdrawing from and destroying arms-control treaties and are threatening war with Iran, the Air Force has announced yet another ICBM test to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base under the cover of darkness,” David Krieger, president of the Santa Barbara-based Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, said Wednesday. “This is the second ICBM missile test in less than a month,” he added. “If we choose to have a world in which our citizens are safe and secure from nuclear attack, the proper path to do this would be leadership toward nuclear disarmament rather than nuclear muscle-flexing.” — Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at . (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.<doc-sep>
The US Air Force (USAF) has conducted a test-launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, US. Equipped with a test re-entry vehicle, the Minuteman III was test-launched by a team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen from the 90th Missile Wing at FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, US. The objective of the operational test was to demonstrate the flexibility and readiness of the country’s nuclear deterrent against modern-day threats. A statement issued by the USAF noted that test launches are not performed as a response or reaction to world events or regional tensions. Minuteman III’s re-entry vehicle comprised a high-fidelity package used for operational testing. The vehicle travelled nearly 4,200 miles towards a target positioned in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The service stated that these test launches help it verify the accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapon system. “The ICBM is the land-based, silo-launched foundation of the country’s nuclear deterrence triad and began deployment in 1970.” Valuable data provided by the tests will ensure a ‘continued safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent’, the statement added. 576th Flight Test Squadron commander colonel Dave Kelley said: “The test launch is the culmination of months of hard work and preparation that involve multiple partners. I couldn’t be more impressed with the team that we partner with to successfully execute this mission.” Boeing is the prime contractor and original equipment manufacturer for the Minuteman missile. The ICBM is the land-based, silo-launched foundation of the country’s nuclear deterrence triad and began deployment in 1970. The USAF intends to replace the Boeing LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM weapon system with the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). Boeing expects deployment of GBSD to start in 2027. Task Force commander major Travis Hilliard said: “Members of the 90th MW were selected for this task force based on their demonstrated commitment, dedication to the mission and proficiency in maintaining and operating the nation’s ICBM force.”