US MISSILE TEST

[GUNNER]

The U.S. Air Force has test-launched a Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile from California.

The ICBM lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base before dawn on Wednesday.

The Air Force says the missile's single re-entry vehicle traveled 4,190 miles (6,742 kilometers) over the Pacific Ocean before hitting a target near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Col. Steven Winters of the 30th Space Wing says in a statement that the launch operation was seamless.

 

[Progressive]

So what is the point of this thread?

 

[mjnaushad]

So what is the point of this thread?

What is the point of your post???

Any more info.....hypersonic, sub sonic etc

 

[TruthSeeker]

Vandenberg Launches Nuke-Capable Missile

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, visited Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday, June 16, to witness the test flight of a Minuteman III, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) designed for nuclear capabilities. There are estimated to be about 500 Minuteman IIIs in the United States, mostly located in the Midwest. On Wednesday, one such missile was brought into Santa Barbara County and aimed at a test site over 4,000 miles away on the Marshall Islands. The launch demoralized peace constituents, who saw the testing of nuclear-capable weapons as a provocative gesture.

Coming three weeks after the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the launch bristled the Nuclear Peace Foundation. US missile testing, they maintained, “[undermines] the progress on preventing nuclear proliferation that was achieved at the Conference.” The Foundation also decried the outlay of tax dollars on unusable weapons systems. Wednesday’s launch, they said, reportedly cost around $100 million dollars, though an Air Force official contends that a typical launch costs about $21 million.

The Minuteman III missile, manufactured by Boeing, measures about 60 feet high and weighs in at about 80,000 pounds. The missiles are part of the recently outlined Air Force Global Strike Command, whose goal is to develop and provide weapons for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.

Wednesday’s flight test demonstrated the first launch of the missile since the Air Force Global Strike Command acquired the 576th Test Flight Squadron. For a given fiscal year, there are scheduled to be three Minuteman III flight tests.

Meanwhile, the Air Force is developing a plan to extend the current ICBM force from 2020 out to 2030, a plan supported by their ongoing program designed to continually test, improve, and update Minuteman III technology.

The Santa Barbara Independent Vandenberg Launches Nuke-Capable Missile

 

[TruthSeeker]

Minuteman III Launched

updated: Jun 16, 2010, 5:24 AM

Source: VAFB

A scheduled Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test was launched here at 3:01 a.m. June 16 from Launch Facility-10.

The flight test was the first for the 576th Flight Test Squadron since its realignment under Air Force Global Strike Command.

The missile's single re-entry test vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles before hitting its pre-determined target near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

"Team Vandenberg's coordination was phenomenal resulting in a seamless launch operation," said Col. Steven Winters, the 30th Space Wing vice commander and Launch Decision Authority.

MMIII missiles launched from Vandenberg carry sophisticated data collection equipment, according to Col. Carl DeKemper, the 576th FLTS commander. ICBM analysts, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, will use the data collected from this mission for continuing force development evaluation.

"For more than 50 years, Vandenberg has been at the forefront of testing and improving ICBMs to ensure the readiness and reliability of our fleet," said Col. DeKemper. "Our team is dedicated to ensuring a safe, secure and effective combat-ready ICBM force."

Minuteman III Launched - Santa Barbara Edhat

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

So what is the point of this thread?

stop trolling.

 

[Progressive]

stop trolling.

How is it trolling? So what if I start a new thread titled "US missile test", they do it every month, no need for a separate thread on it unless its something that is new.

BTW i think you should get back to your xbox 360 and play SOCOM.

 

[mjnaushad]

How is it trolling? So what if I start a new thread titled "US missile test", they do it every month, no need for a separate thread on it unless its something that is new.

BTW i think you should get back to your xbox 360 and play SOCOM.

They do it every month.....

ARE YOU SURE????


Just to remind you its not BR where only Indian praising is allowed. Its an international forum and any defence related news is welcomed to be discussed no matter how many times it happens.



BTW we open new thread every time an Indian mig crash regardless of it happens every month.

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

i dont understand why a might like US feels necessary to test ICBMs even though they are unmatched Militarily.

 

[sulemani keeda]

i dont understand why a might like US feels necessary to test ICBMs even though they are unmatched Militarily.

Testing for the sake of validating equipments and technology is one thing and testing for the sake of sending political message to "neighbours" or to show off for domestic consumption is another thing.

You may be referring to the later.

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

They do it every month.....



BTW we open new thread every time an Indian mig crash regardless of it happens every month.

i thought it was twice a month..

 

[IBRIS]

i thought it was twice a month..

Awesome, you crash 1 every 2 months and we crash 1 every month. Don't be mad that we do it once a month and you only get to crash 1 plane every 2 months.

 

[Kinetic]

Any more info.....hypersonic, sub sonic etc

How an ICBM can be subsonic? Except few SRBM all the ballistic missiles are hypersonic. As the news mentioned the missile traveled 6,742 kilometers it's speed must be more than Mach 20.

 

[faithfulguy]

They do it every month.....

ARE YOU SURE????


Just to remind you its not BR where only Indian praising is allowed. Its an international forum and any defence related news is welcomed to be discussed no matter how many times it happens.



BTW we open new thread every time an Indian mig crash regardless of it happens every month.

Truth does hurt..

 

[TruthSeeker]

These missiles are very expensive. But also getting old. I think that the "budget" for testing only three per year shows that a minimum is done to gain assurance that, if and when needed, the missiles will strike their intended target. Also there is discussion about arming some missiles that were originally designed for nuclear warheads with conventional explosives for "bunker busting" purposes. Kind of a "rods from god" concept. So, perhaps such tests are associated with seeing how the missile would perform with a conventional warhead, etc.