Why in news?
The United States Air Force test‑fired an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The long‑planned test came shortly after a political debate on whether to resume nuclear weapons testing. The launch sparked discussion about the capabilities and future of America’s land‑based nuclear arsenal.
Background
The LGM‑30G Minuteman III, introduced in the early 1970s, is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company, now part of Boeing. It was the first missile deployed by the United States to carry multiple independently targetable re‑entry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to strike several targets. The name “Minuteman” evokes colonial militiamen ready to fight at a minute’s notice, reflecting the missile’s quick‑launch capability. Although originally designed for a 10‑year service life, successive modernisation programmes have kept it operational for over five decades.
Main features
- Propulsion: Three‑stage solid‑fuel rocket motors propel the missile. A liquid‑fuelled post‑boost vehicle manoeuvres the re‑entry vehicle(s) into final trajectories.
- Speed and range: The missile reaches speeds of around 15,000 miles per hour and can travel up to 13,000 kilometres, enabling it to strike targets across continents within roughly 30 minutes.
- Warhead configuration: Earlier versions could carry up to three nuclear warheads. Under arms control treaties, current configurations carry a single warhead, with unused payload capacity filled by ballast.
- Silo deployment: Each missile is housed in a reinforced underground silo connected to a launch control centre. Airborne command posts provide backup launch capability in case ground stations are compromised.
Future outlook
- Modernisation: The U.S. plans to replace Minuteman III with the LGM‑35A Sentinel ICBM starting later in the decade. Sentinel will feature improved cyber‑security and guidance systems.
- Arms control debates: The test coincided with renewed calls from some politicians to resume nuclear explosive testing, while many experts argue that virtual simulations and sub‑critical tests are sufficient to ensure reliability.
- Strategic deterrence: As one leg of the U.S. nuclear triad (alongside submarine‑launched and air‑delivered weapons), land‑based ICBMs provide a second‑strike capability intended to deter adversaries from a first strike.