Air Force Demos Boeing-Built Minuteman III ICBM with Test Re-Entry Vehicle

The U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command tested a Boeing-built Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system Monday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The military branch said Monday 341st Missile Wing airmen launched the unarmed Minuteman III with a test re-entry vehicle that contained a telemetry package during the operational test, the Air Force said Monday.

The re-entry vehicle traveled nearly 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the service branch noted.

“I’m extremely proud of the 21 maintainers and operators from the 341st Missile Wing Task Force who worked flawlessly alongside the professionals from the 576 FLTS to make this mission a success,” said Lt. Col. Ron Clough, Task Force commander.

The Air Force conducted the test to evaluate the performance of the ICBM weapon system as a nuclear deterrent.

The departments of Defense and Energy as well as the U.S. Strategic Command will use data from the test in force development assessment efforts.