Air Force tests intercontinental ballistic missile
By Rebecca Kheel - 10/02/19 01:46 PM EDT
The Air Force test-launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday, Air Force Global Strike Command said in a press release.
The Minuteman III was launched with reentry vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 1:13 a.m. local time, according to the release. The reentry vehicle traveled about 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
“The flight test program demonstrates one part of the operational capability of the ICBM weapon system," Colonel Omar Colbert, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, said in a statement. “The Minuteman III is nearly 50 years old, and continued test launches are essential in ensuring its reliability until the mid-2030s when the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent is fully in place. Most importantly, this visible message of national security serves to assure our partners and dissuade potential aggressors.â€
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/464061-air-force-tests-intercontinental-ballistic-missile
