For the second time within a week, a collaborative team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and Space Force Guardians successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a single re-entry vehicle. The launch took place at 1:46 a.m. Pacific time on June 6, 2024.
This test launch is part of regular activities aimed at proving the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable, and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and assuring allies. With over 300 such tests conducted historically, this particular launch is not a response to current global events. Col. Chris Cruise, Commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, highlighted the significance of the operation:
“Completing two operational test launches in one week showcases the excellence and professionalism of our Airmen and Guardians. This launch reaffirms our dedication to deterrence, serving as a cornerstone of security for our global allies and partners.”
The ICBM’s re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The test site, equipped with advanced radars, optical sensors, and telemetry systems, plays a crucial role in supporting the research, development, testing, and evaluation of America’s defense and space programs. During these tests, data is collected to assess system performance in the final phase of flight.
The successful launch is the result of months of preparation involving multiple government partners. Airmen from all three missile wings participated in the task force for the test, with maintenance support provided by the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The missile bases under Air Force Global Strike Command maintain 24/7 alert status, ensuring the nation’s ICBM forces are always ready.
Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, emphasized the readiness of the ICBM force:
“Our ICBM force offers 24/7 strategic deterrence and is prepared to respond instantly as the most responsive leg of the nuclear triad. These test launches affirm our capability to deliver a safe, secure, effective, and credible global combat force.”
The ICBM community, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and U.S. Strategic Command, utilizes data from these test launches for ongoing force development and evaluation. The ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational capability of the Minuteman III, ensuring the United States can maintain a robust and credible nuclear deterrent, vital for national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.
