(MENAFN) On Wednesday, the US military conducted an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile test, the second in less than a month after a previous launch was postponed twice.
Washington publicized the test ahead of time, an uncommon action that appears to be aimed at avoiding an escalation of tensions with Russia, which are already high owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with three test re-entry vehicles" previously on September 7 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the US Air Force asserted in a statement.
The re-entry vehicles would be armed with nuclear bombs in the event of a confrontation.
"This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States' nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective," the announcement stated.
It also highlighted, "This test is not the result of current world events."
The US Air Force successfully launched a Minutemen III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on August 16, after postponing the test twice to prevent inflaming tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan.
The Minuteman III has been in service for 50 years and is the US nuclear arsenals only land-based ICBM. The missiles are stored in silos at three United States military facilities in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana.
MENAFN11092022000045011137ID1104844129
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.