The United States Air Force has conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, as part of ongoing efforts to demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of its nuclear deterrent.
The launch took place at 12:01am Pacific Time on 21 May 2025. The missile, fitted with a high-fidelity Mark-21 re-entry vehicle, travelled approximately 4,200 miles before landing at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
AFGSC Airmen & Guardians supported an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM on May 21 at 12:01 am PT. This test validates the safety & readiness of the weapon system.
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— Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) May 21, 2025
The US Department of Defense said the launch was a routine test that forms part of more than 300 such demonstrations carried out over several decades. Officials emphasised that the activity was “not a response to current world events”, but rather part of ensuring the continued credibility of the US nuclear deterrent.
General Thomas Bussiere, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said: “This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad.” He praised the role of airmen involved in safeguarding the force, including missileers, helicopter crews, defenders, and support teams.
Colonel Dustin Harmon, who leads the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, which oversaw the launch, added: “Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nation’s strategic deterrent. The unwavering dedication of the Airmen who ensure its readiness is a testament to its inherent lethality.”
He also noted the role these personnel will play in transitioning to the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel missile system, currently under development.
The missile wings at F.E. Warren and Malmstrom Air Force Bases provided maintenance support for the test, with operational crews drawn from across the US missile force. The Reagan Test Site provided tracking and sensor data, including radar and telemetry, to assess the missile’s flight and impact accuracy.
Lieutenant Colonel Casey Rumfelt, Director of the Reagan Test Site, described it as “an indispensable national asset”, uniquely equipped to support strategic weapons testing.
Until the Sentinel system reaches full operational capability, the US Air Force confirmed it remains committed to keeping the Minuteman III fleet reliable and capable. The missile system has been in continuous service since the 1970s and remains a central component of the US nuclear triad, alongside strategic bombers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
