USAF test fires Minuteman III ICBM

USAF Photo The U.S. Air Force 91st Missile Wing completed an operational test launch of an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinent...

USAF Photo

The U.S. Air Force 91st Missile Wing completed an operational test launch of an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Aug. 19, continuing its mission of providing strategic deterrence for the U.S. and their allies.

The launch fell on the 45th anniversary of the day the 91st MW at Minot AFB, North Dakota, put the Air Force’s first Minuteman III missiles on alert.

Working with members of the 576th Flight Test Squadron and 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, the Minot AFB team launched the ICBM at 3:03 a.m. PDT.

The test re-entry vehicle impacted in a pre-established test area roughly 4,200 miles away in the Pacific Ocean near the Kwajalein Atoll.

The a three-stage, solid-fueled missile, was first launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 1, 1961.

The last Minuteman III was delivered from Boeing's Plant 77 on Nov. 30, 1978. In all, Boeing had deployed 150 Minuteman IA, 650 Minuteman IB, 500 Minuteman II, and 550 Minuteman III missiles.

Minuteman III missiles are part of the United States Strategic Command that also includes the Navy’s Ohio class fleet of ballistic missile submarines and Air Force’s B-2 and B-52 bombers.