Missile Test Launch Verifies System Reliability

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with two test re-entry vehicles March 3, at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

This launch, designated GT 255, was scheduled years ago, and is not in response to world events. It is a key component of a data-driven program that has been in place for decades, involving over 300 similar tests designed to validate the performance of the weapon system. The data collected from these routine tests is essential for ongoing and future force development.

"GT 255 allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system," said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. "By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire ICBM fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation's nuclear triad."

This test not only focused on the performance of the ICBM but also the performance of its multiple reentry vehicles, which are primarily used to increase missile effectiveness and overcome enemy defenses.

"It is critical to test all aspects of our ICBM force, including our ability to deliver multiple, independently targeted payloads with absolute precision," said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of AFGSC. "This test validates the intricate synchronization of the weapon system, from the initial launch sequence to the flawless deployment of each reentry vehicle."

During the test, the ICBM's two reentry vehicles traveled thousands of miles to a pre-determined target at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This long-range flight allows engineers and weapons experts from the 377th Test and Evaluation Group to collect invaluable data on the missile's accuracy and reliability, verifying that every component of the ICBM weapon system performs as designed.

The 377 TEG then provides the data collected from these test launches to a wide range of stakeholders, including the Department of War, the Department of Energy and U.S. Strategic Command, for comprehensive force development evaluation. The program's primary goal is to evaluate the operational capability of the Minuteman III, ensuring the United States maintains a technically sound and dependable weapon system.

"Test launches are the most visible and vital way we verify our capabilities and validate the performance of our systems," said Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th TEG commander. "The men and women of our missile community represent some of the most highly trained professionals in our nation's defense. These tests confirm their unmatched ability to support this critical mission and provide crucial data that ensures our systems remain ready and reliable."

The launch was the result of months of meticulous preparation involving multiple government partners. Airmen from the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, provided direct maintenance support, while operators from across all three missile wings initiated the launch.

"The data we gather ensures our long-range strike capabilities are not just a theoretical concept, but a proven, reliable, and lethal force, ready to defend the nation at a moment's notice," Davis said.

As the Minuteman III remains on alert, the Air Force is committed to its replacement, the LGM-35A Sentinel, which represents the modernization of the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad.