The US Air Force destroyed the Minuteman III missile during launch due to an emergency situation
The US Air Force destroyed the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile due to an anomaly detected during a test launch. Nevertheless, according to the US military, they managed to obtain important data. The reasons for the failed launch will be investigated by a specially created analytical group. Russia's strategic nuclear forces conducted their training on October 25.
During the test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), problems arose, because of which the US military had to give the command to self-destruct it. This was reported by the Command of the global strike of the US Air Force.
"An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM was destroyed over the Pacific Ocean on November 1 at 00:06 US Pacific Time (at 10:06 Moscow Time) due to an anomaly that occurred during a test launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California," the report says (quoted by Interfax ).
As the military explained, "an anomaly is any unexpected event during a test. Since anomalies can occur due to many factors related to the operating platform itself or the test equipment, a thorough analysis is necessary to identify the cause."
The military reported that despite the destruction of the ICBM, they managed to obtain "important data" during the test launch.
"The test launch program helps the command evaluate Minuteman III and collect data to maintain the effectiveness of the system," the statement said.
The test was supposed to show reliability
The Pentagon announced plans to launch the Minuteman III ICBM the day before. According to the press secretary of the US Defense Department, Patrick Ryder, the launch was supposed to demonstrate "the reliability of the strategic deterrence system" and also serve as a "signal to allies about guarantees" from the United States.
The launch of Minuteman III is the fourth this year (the previous ones took place in February, April and September). According to the publication Noozhawk, during tests with the Minuteman III missile, as a rule, they aim at an area located in the central Pacific Ocean.
The LGM-30G Minuteman III has been in service with the US Air Force since 1970 and is the only mine-based ICBM in US service as of 2023. Its firing range is 13,000 km . About 400 Minuteman missiles are on combat duty.
The Russian military trained on October 25
On October 25, the Strategic Nuclear Forces (SNF) of Russia conducted their training.
The Yars ICBM was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka, and the Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea from the Tula strategic submarine. Two Tu-95MS long-range aircraft launched air-launched cruise missiles.
"The Strategic Nuclear Forces [during the exercises] worked out the tasks of delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
All the tasks planned during the training have been completed, according to the Kremlin's website.
"The management of practical launches was carried out from the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation. During the events, the level of preparedness of the military command bodies, the skills of the senior and operational staff in organizing the management of subordinate troops (forces) were checked," the Kremlin reported.
Alexey Permyakov