In the early hours of May 21, 2025, the United States successfully test-launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The missile flew over 4,200 miles to the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands, landing right on target.
For the average American, this might seem like just another military drill. But here’s the bigger picture: while the US prepares to bring in the new Sentinel ICBM, this launch sends a clear message. The aging Minuteman III still works—and works well.
Launched at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, the test was part of a routine series of operations. These tests are not responses to world events. They’re scheduled, steady, and strategic—designed to prove that even in 2025, the 1970s-era Minuteman III remains a deadly accurate part of America’s nuclear triad.
Watch the video here
#BREAKING🔸 US tests Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in second launch this year.
The unarmed nuclear-capable missile was launched from California to the Pacific. pic.twitter.com/MBMJQTkAWY
— Twilight (@TwilightDewy) May 21, 2025
Old But Not Out
With a range of nearly 13,000 km and a near-pinpoint accuracy of 120 meters, the Minuteman III may be over 50 years old, but it’s still fierce.
It was the first US missile with multiple reentry vehicles—think of it like one missile carrying several warheads. Though arms control treaties now limit it to one warhead per missile, its legacy of lethality hasn’t faded.
Each missile sits in a hardened underground silo, monitored around the clock. If communications break down, airborne command centers can still launch them. It’s a layered system—built for war, designed for peace.
A Bridge to the Future
But let’s be honest—the Minuteman III isn’t getting any younger. That’s why the US is moving toward the LGM-35A Sentinel, set to enter service by 2029. The goal: seamless transition, not sudden change.
Until then, the Air Force is spending billions to keep the current system sharp. And the teams at missile wings in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota continue to ensure everything works like clockwork.
As US General Thomas Bussiere put it, this launch wasn’t just about hardware—it was about the people. Airmen, engineers, and defenders make sure the system stays secure and ready.
Still Relevant, Still Reliable
Colonel Dustin Harmon, who led the operation, called the Minuteman III “the bedrock of our deterrent.” And he’s right. In a world full of noise and new threats, quiet consistency is underrated.
Sure, it’s old tech. But so is the wheel—and you don’t see anyone reinventing that.
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