The U.S. will launch a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile next week after Russian forces trained with SS-N-23 Skiff and SS-27 Mod 2 missiles

The US is preparing for another launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. This will be the last test in 2023.

Here's What We Know

Minuteman III is an older intercontinental ballistic missile that is part of the US nuclear triad and provides effective deterrence. It will be replaced by the Sentinel at the turn of two decades, but in the meantime, the US is trying to test it regularly.

On 6 September 2023, the US Air Force launched Minuteman III from the Vandeberg Space Force Base. The combat module flew about 6,800 kilometres and landed in the Pacific Ocean off Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

The test will take place next week. The US Air Force will launch Minuteman III days after the Russian strategic force exercises. During their exercise, the Russians launched Yars (NATO classification SS-27 Mod 2) and Sineva (NATO classification SS-N-23 Skiff) ballistic missiles.

The Minuteman III is the only American silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile. It has three stages and a single warhead. The missile can deliver W78 and W87 nuclear warheads with a yield of 350 kilotons and 450 kilotons respectively. The launch range exceeds 10,000 kilometres.