Minuteman III missile
Why in news?
United States successfully test-fired an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on November 5, 2025 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Key features of the Minuteman III missile
- American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has been a key part of the United States' nuclear deterrent since the 1970s.
- It is a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket, which makes it easier to maintain compared to liquid-fueled missiles.
- The missile can reach speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour or Mach 23.
- It can carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs).
- Its design allows for rapid launch, within a minute of command, emphasizing quick response capabilities.
- The Minuteman III forms one leg of the US strategic nuclear triad, alongside submarine-launched and air-delivered nuclear weapons.
- It is designed to be launched only in retaliation to a nuclear attack, serving as a deterrent.
- The Minuteman III is planned to be replaced gradually by the LGM-35A Sentinel, a new generation of ICBMs, by around 2030 as part of nuclear modernization.
The missile has been referred to as a "doomsday" or "city-killer" missile due to its strategic role and devastating impact potential in nuclear warfare contexts.
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