The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an American minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile. It has been in service with the U.S. Air Force since 1970 and is the only silo-based ICBM in service with the United States as of 2013. It is the closest analogue of the LIGHT ballistic missile RT-2 UTTH better known as "Topol", but, unlike "Topol", does not have missile carriers and is launched only from a bunker.
As of 2008, the United States has 450 Minuteman III missiles, which are equipped with 550 nuclear warheads. 150 ICBMs are on combat duty in the mines at Malmstrom Air Force Base (Montana), Francis Warren (Wyoming) and Minot Air Force Base (North Dakota).
The missiles undergo regular modernization, so from 2007 to 2012, the Mk.12A warheads were replaced with Mk.21 (with MX-type ICBMs), guidance and control systems, power plants. As of 2022, this missile is still in service with the US Air Force and its upgraded versions are regularly tested.
Launches
During one of the tests in May 2008, the launch range was 8500 km.
On August 23, 2009, a test launch was carried out from a position at vandenberg Air Force Base.[5][6] In addition to confirming the characteristics, the launch was used to test the systems of the integrated layered US NOPRO glory Trip 195 system. The tests involved the sea-based X-band SBX radar, the AN/TPY-2 mobile X-band radar, and the External Sensor Laboratory.
On June 16, 2010, a successful launch was carried out as part of a routine check of the reliability and accuracy of the missile systems The missile was launched from Vandenberg Base, the target was located at a distance of 6.7 thousand in the Pacific Ocean near the Marshall Islands.
Partially successful on June 22, 2011 at 13:35 UTC (06:35 Pacific Time, 03:35 Hawaii time) a test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM from the US Air Force Base "Vandenberg" took place. The rocket on the launch pad was unable to receive the launch command, which was given from the Boeing E-6 Mercury communications aircraft. Only after the command was re-given from the ground did the rocket launch and hit the target on Kwajalein Atoll.
Unsuccessful test launch on July 27, 2011 at 03:01 local time, at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM took place.
On May 22, 2013, at 13:27 UTC (06:27 Pacific Time, 03:27 Hawaii Time), a test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM took place from the 4th launch facility at vandenberg Air Force Base. A few minutes after the launch, as in 2011, an expanding halo of light was observed from Hawaii, caused by a sharp release of pressure in the combustion chamber of a solid-fuel rocket engine by rapidly opening the termination thrust ports located on the sides of the third stage of the ICBM and released by detonating the fixing charges upon reaching a given flight path to ensure the accuracy of guidance on the target. 30 minutes after the launch (flight mission GT207GM), the warhead of the ICBM hit a conditional target at the Pacific test site in the area of Kwajalein Atoll.
On April 26, 2017, at 12:03 local time, a test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch was successful. The range was 6500 km (4000 mi).
An unsuccessful test launch on July 31, 2018 was made in the morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base (California). The missile was destroyed on command while flying over the Pacific Ocean before reaching its target.
On August 4, 2020, the US Department of Defense conducted another launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday to test the reliability of its systems. The launch was made from a mine at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Three training warheads of the missile covered a distance of about 6.75 thousand km and hit targets in the area of Kwajalein Atoll (Marshall Islands) in the Pacific Ocean.
On September 2, 2020 (12:03 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force's Global Strike Command launched unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles during operational tests. An intercontinental ballistic missile covered a distance of about 4200 miles to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
On October 28, 2020, the next test launch was postponed to October 29 due to unfavorable conditions. On October 29, 2020 (at 12:27 p.m. Pacific Time), the tests took place, according to Chief of Staff Gen. Charles K. Brown Jr., to demonstrate deterrence.
On February 23, 2021 (23:49 Pacific Time), unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base (California).
Failed test launch on May 5, 2021: At Vandenberg Air Force Base, the rocket's onboard computer canceled the launch for an unnamed reason.
