Because the struggle within the Center East entered its sixth day, the US carried out a check launch of its nuclear-capable Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. Nicknamed the “doomsday missile”, the Minuteman III can carry warheads as much as 20 occasions extra highly effective than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
On Tuesday night time, the Air Pressure International Strike Command launched the unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg House Pressure Base in California, outfitted with two check re-entry automobiles, the US House Pressure stated in an announcement.
The missile, recognized by the US House Pressure as check automobile GT-255, was launched as a part of a long-standing routine analysis programme and was not formally linked to the continued battle, the assertion added.
It efficiently travelled 1000’s of miles earlier than placing its designated affect space close to the Marshall Islands within the west-central Pacific Ocean.
“GT 255 allowed us to evaluate the efficiency of particular person elements of the missile system,” stated Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, 576th Flight Take a look at Squadron commander. “By regularly assessing various mission profiles, we’re capable of improve the efficiency of your complete ICBM fleet, making certain the utmost stage of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad.”
The Minuteman III, a cornerstone of the US’s strategic arsenal, has a spread of roughly 6,000 miles and may journey at speeds exceeding 15,000 miles per hour, enabling it to achieve targets throughout continents inside minutes.
Tuesday night time’s check shaped a part of a “long-running, data-driven analysis programme that has included greater than 300 comparable launches over a number of many years to confirm the reliability, accuracy and readiness of the land-based nuclear deterrent,” the US House Pressure stated.
A earlier Minuteman III check was carried out in November 2025 amid renewed debate in Washington over nuclear preparedness.
WHY IS IT CALLED ‘DOOMSDAY’ MISSILE
Nicknamed the “doomsday missile,” the Minuteman III represents one of the harmful weapons within the US’s nuclear arsenal. The ICBM is able to carrying nuclear warheads as much as 20 occasions extra highly effective than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, underscoring the catastrophic scale of harm it may unleash in a nuclear battle.
The missile earns its ominous nickname as a result of it kinds the land-based spine of the US nuclear triad, constructed for fast retaliation within the occasion of a nuclear assault.
Not like earlier programs, the Minuteman III runs on strong gasoline, permitting it to stay on fixed excessive alert and be launched inside minutes from underground silos.
As an ICBM, it could journey 1000’s of miles throughout continents at hypersonic speeds, placing targets nearly anyplace on the planet. It may additionally cdeploy a number of independently targetable re-entry automobiles (MIRVs), enabling a single missile to strike a number of targets in a single launch.
IRAN WAR ENTERS 6TH DAY
Because the struggle entered its sixth day, Iran on Thursday launched a wave of missiles towards Israel, sending thousands and thousands scrambling into bomb shelters and air raid sirens echoing throughout main cities. The barrage got here simply hours after efforts within the US to rein in Washington’s air marketing campaign towards Iran have been blocked within the Senate.
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Republican lawmakers voted down a decision that sought to halt the air assault and require specific congressional authorisation for additional army motion.
The measure failed 53–47, largely alongside social gathering strains, successfully leaving President Donald Trump’s struggle powers intact because the battle widens throughout the Center East.
With missile exchanges intensifying, naval engagements increasing and diplomatic efforts faltering, the struggle reveals little signal of abating — even because the US indicators the continued readiness of its strategic deterrent.
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