An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from North Vandenberg Feb. 7 at 12:14 a.m.
"This program is key to our constant assessment of the reliability of our ICBM fleet. Every successful test validates the readiness of this bedrock of America's nuclear deterrent force. It says a lot about the missile crews, maintainers and supporting agencies that are out in the missile fields 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year protecting our nation" - Brig. Gen. C. Donald Alston, director of Air Force Space Command's Air, Space and Information Operations.
The launch was part of an operational test to determine the weapon system's reliability and accuracy.
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, was launched from Launch Facility-10 on North Vandenberg at 12:01 a.m. on the 16th February.
The launch was part of a test to demonstrate the ability to integrate modified products into existing weapon systems.
"The purpose of the flight was to verify the Minuteman III’s ability to carry the safer and more accurate Mark 21 warhead, originally designed for the Peacekeeper missile" - Lt. Col. S.L. Davis, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander.
A Minuteman III LF-10 ICBM test launch (non-orbital) is scheduled for February 16th, from the Vandenberg AFB site, Ventura County, California. The payload is one unarmed Mark 21 warhead. The target impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few days in advance.
