On Wednesday, the United States launched an unarmed but capable ballistic missile (ICBM) from California across the Pacific Ocean for its first launch this year.
Newsweek Contact with Pentagon For more comment via email. The Chinese and Russian defense ministries did not immediately respond to the suspension requests.
Why do it matter
The launch of the minuteman III test ICBM It comes after the president Donald Trump He said on February 13 he would do Discuss nuclear disarmament With both Russia and China, Poiliated competitors From America that owns “A thousand nuclear weapons plus“In this field.
ICBM is among three strategic weapons, in addition to ballistic missile submarines and explosives, which make up the American Nuclear Trinity To deter opponents. the American army It updates the three, which works after the original design life.
What do you know
The Minutean III ICBM Launched From Vandinburg’s space in California at one in the morning, Pacific time. The missile that can carry it Up to three nuclear warheads this It is referred to as vehicles to re -enterIt is equipped with one for Collection.
The missile has More than 6000 miles And 15,000 miles per hour. The re -enter vehicle flew 4,200 miles to the Ronald Reagan missile test site, inside the Marshall Islands on the island of Kawajalin in the middle Pacific Ocean.
Several navigational warning areas were created before the test, indicating the rocket track. They were out of the Vandenberg base coast, in the middle of the road between California and Hawaii, and around Atoll Kwajalein, NewsweekA map appears.
The test “is not a response to the current global events”, because it is a routine and immediate activity, which presented America’s nuclear deterrence as “safe, safe, reliable and effective” in deterring threats and reassurance, American Air Force He said the leadership of the global strike.
The American army informed its Russian counterpart of testing it, according to Bilateral obligations. In 2000, both countries A note signed This reduced the possibility of launching a missile caused by a wrong warning of a ballistic missile attack.
It was not clear whether China Received an advanced warning Again, which the United States did to launch the previous test In NovemberAfter notifying China to launch the ICBM test In September. There is no agreement on the preliminary notification between them.
Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma/US Space Force
What people say
General Thomas Posayeer, the leader of the US Air Force’s global strike, said in A. press release: “The nuclear trio is the cornerstone of the national security of our country and our allies around the world. This testing indicates their willingness and reliability in our nation. Because of the skills groups, the experience of our maintenance employees and our missile teams, freedoms and the homeland remain safe.”
” press release: “[The test] Our team is allowed to analyze accuracy and reliability of the current system and reliability while checking the expected missile system improvements. The data we collect and analyze is very important to maintain Minutean III while paving the way for Sentinel. “
What happens after that
The goalkeeper is the new American ICBM that will replace Minuteman III, but the program faces delay and costs, Air & Space Force I mentioned.
