Minuteman III mission launches from Vandenberg: ‘Always ready to defend the United States’
The year’s second Minuteman III missile test launch took place early Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Lompoc with key actions performed aboard an aircraft flying off the coast.
The three-stage, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a mock warhead popped out of its underground silo on North Base at 5:11 a.m. in a test involving U.S. Air Force, Navy and Space Force personnel.
For this test, the final step to send the weapon on its way occurred aboard the Airborne Launch Control System involving a Navy crew on an E-6 aircraft.
“Strategic deterrence is the most critical mission in our Air Force and the cornerstone of America’s defense,” said Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander. “The foundation of our command and our ability to execute our mission is because of Striker Airmen, and I have full and unwavering confidence in their abilities.
“This test launch reinforces what our allies and partners already know – we’re always ready to defend the United States with combat-ready nuclear forces anytime, anywhere, on order, to conduct a global strike.”
Vandenberg is home to multiple Minuteman III missile tests each year under for program to “demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies,” AFGSC representatives said.
“Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.”
Upon liftoff, the military tracked the re-entry vehicle as it traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Typically, the final actions, or key turns, for missile tests occur from underground launch control center at Vandenberg.
However, the military also has its airborne platform as a backup to underground facilities and periodically uses the ALCS during Minuteman tests.
“We have a unique ability to strike a target anywhere, at any time, should the commander-in-chief deem it vital to our national security and the security of our allies,” said Col. Chris Cruise, 377th Test Evaluation Group commander at Vandenberg. “An Airborne Launch Control System test validates that capability, ensures we have redundancy in our weapons systems, and showcases the interoperability with our Navy counterparts.”
The 377th Test Evaluation Group, which stood up last fall, includes the 576th Flight Test Squadron and other units involved in testing ICBMs.
Airmen from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, were selected for the task force to support the test launch.
The three missile bases within AFGSC have crew members standing alert 24 hours a day, year-round, overseeing the nation’s ICBMs, which number 400.
Another Minuteman III missile test occurred in February from Vandenberg.
The next launch from Vandenberg will involve a Falcon 9 rocket carrying another batch of Starlink satellites on April 25 from the base.
Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com .
