U.S. Air Force Test-Launches Minuteman III Missile in November to Validate ICBM Readiness and Accuracy.

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command carried out a Minuteman III launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in early November 2025 as part of test GT 254. The event offered fresh performance data that supports the reliability and long-term continuity of the U.S. strategic nuclear force.

The U.S. Air Force confirmed that its Global Strike Command conducted the GT 254 test launch of a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in early November 2025, describing the launch as a routine demonstration of the system's health and accuracy. Officials said the unarmed missile followed its standard Pacific test trajectory and provided data that analysts within the nuclear enterprise will use to verify long-term performance assumptions for the aging ICBM fleet.
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A Minuteman III ICBM launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 01:35 a.m. Pacific Time on November 5, 2025, as part of an operational test. Regular test launches confirm system accuracy and highlight areas requiring technical adjustment. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

U.S. Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron initiated the missile using the Airborne Launch Control System aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft. This demonstrated the resilience of the ALCS architecture, which provides a survivable backup command-and-control capability if ground-based missile launch centers are compromised during a strategic crisis.

The GT 254 assessment focused on validating missile accuracy, guidance stability, and launch reliability under realistic conditions. Officials emphasized that the data gathered is vital to ensuring the Minuteman III ICBM (InterContinental Ballistic Missile)  continues to meet stringent mission requirements as the United States prepares to transition to the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

Sensors positioned along the Western Test Range tracked the missile throughout its flight. These recurring evaluations play a crucial role in verifying system integrity and ensuring sustained readiness for a weapon system that has served as the backbone of the land-based nuclear triad for more than five decades.

The 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the U.S. Air Force’s dedicated ICBM test organization, led planning and execution. Missile maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing provided critical technical preparation and configuration of the missile before launch, ensuring compliance with strict safety and reliability standards.

The unarmed reentry vehicle traveled approximately 6,760 km (4,200 miles) to the U.S. Army’s Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. Advanced radar, optical sensors, and telemetry receivers collected terminal-phase data to support missile defense development and verify ICBM flight performance.

GT 254 further underscored the importance of the Minuteman III within the U.S. strategic force. The United States fields around 400 deployed Minuteman III missiles, positioned within a broader infrastructure of roughly 450 hardened silos, although not all silos are currently active or loaded. This network is distributed across three missile wings in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, providing wide geographic dispersal, enhanced survivability, and rapid-response capability.

The test also highlighted the Minuteman III’s enduring combat performance. Its three-stage solid-fuel propulsion system provides intercontinental reach exceeding 9,650 km (6,000 miles), enabling global strike capability within minutes. The missile’s guidance system delivers high terminal accuracy, strengthening the credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Although currently armed with a single reentry vehicle under treaty obligations, the missile was designed to carry multiple independently targeted RVs, reflecting its original destructive potential and modular capability.

The Minuteman III’s launch infrastructure is built for survivability. Hardened silos, dispersed basing, and redundant airborne launch authority through the E-6B Mercury ensure the system can remain operational even in the most demanding scenarios. At peak velocity, the missile accelerates to over 28,400 km/h (around Mach 23), providing rapid global engagement capability.

Senior leaders highlighted that GT 254 validated the missile’s precision and adaptability while demonstrating the readiness and professionalism of the Airmen responsible for sustaining the ICBM fleet. The system continues to meet strict operational standards despite operating far beyond its original service-life expectations.

As the United States advances the deployment of the LGM-35A Sentinel, Air Force Global Strike Command stresses the importance of sustaining Minuteman III readiness throughout the modernization phase. Routine tests such as GT 254 ensure the current fleet remains fully mission-ready, maintaining deterrence stability and supporting national defense objectives.

U.S. Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron initiated the missile using the Airborne Launch Control System aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft. This demonstrated the resilience of the ALCS architecture, which provides a survivable backup command-and-control capability if ground-based missile launch centers are compromised during a strategic crisis.

The GT 254 assessment focused on validating missile accuracy, guidance stability, and launch reliability under realistic conditions. Officials emphasized that the data gathered is vital to ensuring the Minuteman III continues to meet stringent mission requirements as the United States prepares to transition to the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

Sensors positioned along the Western Test Range tracked the missile throughout its flight. These recurring evaluations play a crucial role in verifying system integrity and ensuring sustained readiness for a weapon system that has served as the backbone of the land-based nuclear triad for more than five decades.

The 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the Air Force’s dedicated ICBM test organization, led planning and execution. Missile maintainers from the 90th Missile Wing provided critical technical preparation and configuration of the missile before launch, ensuring compliance with strict safety and reliability standards.

The unarmed reentry vehicle traveled approximately 6,760 km (4,200 miles) to the U.S. Army’s Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. Advanced radar, optical sensors, and telemetry receivers collected terminal-phase data to support missile defense development and verify ICBM flight performance.

GT 254 further underscored the importance of the Minuteman III within the U.S. strategic force. The United States fields around 400 deployed Minuteman III missiles, positioned within a broader infrastructure of roughly 450 hardened silos, although not all silos are currently active or loaded. This network is distributed across three missile wings in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, providing wide geographic dispersal, enhanced survivability, and rapid-response capability.

The test also highlighted the Minuteman III’s enduring combat performance. Its three-stage solid-fuel propulsion system provides intercontinental reach exceeding 9,650 km (6,000 miles), enabling global strike capability within minutes. The missile’s guidance system delivers high terminal accuracy, strengthening the credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Although currently armed with a single reentry vehicle under treaty obligations, the missile was designed to carry multiple independently targeted RVs, reflecting its original destructive potential and modular capability.

The Minuteman III’s launch infrastructure is built for survivability. Hardened silos, dispersed basing, and redundant airborne launch authority through the E-6B Mercury ensure the system can remain operational even in the most demanding scenarios. At peak velocity, the missile accelerates to over 28,400 km/h (around Mach 23), providing rapid global engagement capability.

Senior leaders highlighted that GT 254 validated the missile’s precision and adaptability while demonstrating the readiness and professionalism of the Airmen responsible for sustaining the ICBM fleet. The system continues to meet strict operational standards despite operating far beyond its original service-life expectations.

As the United States advances the deployment of the LGM-35A Sentinel, Air Force Global Strike Command stresses the importance of sustaining Minuteman III readiness throughout the modernization phase. Routine tests such as GT 254 ensure the current fleet remains fully mission-ready, maintaining deterrence stability and supporting national defense objectives.

From a strategic perspective, the successful test reinforces the credibility of U.S. nuclear deterrence by demonstrating that America’s silo-based ICBM force remains accurate, reliable, and capable of responding decisively if required. This assurance remains essential to preserving global stability and supporting the Pentagon’s long-term modernization strategy.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.