U.S. Conducts Minuteman III Missile Test Launch to Reinforce Strategic Assurance to Allies.

According to an official statement released by the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, on May 21, 2025, the United States Air Force Global Strike Command successfully conducted a test launch of an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time. This scheduled operation forms part of a longstanding test program intended to validate the safety, security, reliability, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent and to reinforce strategic assurance to allies and partners.
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A U.S. Air Force unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a scheduled operational test at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on May 21, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and one of the United States' most vital strategic weapons. Designed to carry nuclear warheads across distances of up to 13,000 kilometers, it can reach its target in approximately 30 minutes after launch. Each missile is housed in a fortified underground silo and maintained in a state of constant readiness by dedicated U.S. Air Force personnel. Originally deployed in the early 1970s during the Cold War, the Minuteman III was engineered to provide a credible and survivable second-strike capability. As the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad—complemented by submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers—it plays a central role in deterring nuclear aggression and ensuring global strategic stability.

In this most recent test, the missile was equipped with a single Mark-21 high-fidelity reentry vehicle and traveled approximately 4,200 miles across the Pacific Ocean to its target at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, located within the Republic of the Marshall Islands at Kwajalein Atoll. The Reagan Test Site, a premier range for missile and space testing, is equipped with advanced radar, optical, and telemetry instrumentation, which captured critical data on the missile’s performance throughout its terminal flight phase.

General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, affirmed the significance of the launch, stating, “This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation's nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad.” He emphasized the professionalism of the Airmen who maintain the ICBM force, including operators, defenders, helicopter crews, and logistical support teams, whose constant vigilance ensures national security.

The operation was directed by the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the only U.S. unit solely dedicated to ICBM testing. Colonel Dustin Harmon, commander of the group, highlighted the continuing relevance of the Minuteman III system: “Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nation's strategic deterrent. The unwavering dedication of the Airmen who ensure its readiness is a testament to its inherent lethality.” He added that today’s missileers are also preparing for the transition to the LG-35A Sentinel, a next-generation ICBM that will eventually replace the Minuteman III, providing enhanced resilience, security, and digital capabilities.

Support for the launch came from across the Air Force’s ICBM enterprise. Personnel from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, contributed essential maintenance and operational expertise. Their involvement reflects the collaborative structure of the U.S. missile force, which maintains 24/7 alert status at missile fields and ensures immediate response capability.

The U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and U.S. Strategic Command routinely utilize data gathered from such launches to inform strategic decision-making, system modernization, and long-term capability assessments. Importantly, this test was not a reaction to any specific geopolitical event but part of a scheduled, periodic program that upholds transparency and reinforces the credibility of U.S. strategic forces.

As the transition toward the Sentinel ICBM advances, the Air Force remains committed to sustaining the Minuteman III’s operational viability. Continued test launches will be integral to maintaining this critical deterrent capability, thereby ensuring that the United States retains a strong, reliable, and adaptive strategic posture to deter threats and assure global stability.