US test launches ICBM Minuteman III to validate military reliability, readiness

The United States Air Force Global Strike Command on Wednesday conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The test launch was to verify the reliability, operational readiness, and accuracy of the current ICBM system and comes after President Donald Trump called for the military to resume its nuclear weapons tests. The missile is capable of transporting a nuclear warhead.

The test missile, dubbed GT 254, successfully landed approximately 4,200 miles away, at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands.

“This test validated the reliability, adaptability, and modularity of the weapon system,” Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander, said in a statement. “Through this comprehensive assessment, conducted by a dedicated team of AFGSC Airmen, we ensure the highest standards of integrity and reliability for the Nation's ICBM system.”

The Reagan Test Site is equipped with advanced sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, optical sensors, and telemetry. It collected critical data during the terminal phase of flight.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.