U.S. Air Force Test-Launches Hypersonic ICBM as Russia Deploys Mobile Nukes
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III hypersonic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday, demonstrating that the nation’s nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable, and effective. This launch occurred shortly after Russia conducted combat training with its ‘Yars’ mobile ICBM.
The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) exercise began at 1am PT (5am ET) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, shortly after Russia conducted combat training with its ‘Yars’ ICBM.
The Minuteman III can reach speeds of 15,000 miles per hour as it headed to a test range near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, completing the 4,200-mile trip in approximately 22 minutes.
“Today’s Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth. “It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission.”
“This test launch is demonstrative of our nation’s ICBM readiness and reliability,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia deployed autonomous launchers of the RS-24 Yars, a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), on combat patrol routes, as reported in a Telegram post by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
The Yars, a mobile nuclear missile that can be transported by trucks or stationed in silos, was maneuvered by Russia in a similar display last year as a nuclear signal to the West amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian defense ministry stated, “in the Novosibirsk missile formation, autonomous launchers of the Yars PGRK have been deployed on combat patrol routes,” where crews “march up to 100 kilometers [62 miles], disperse units with a change of field positions, their engineering equipment and security,” and “address countering sabotage and reconnaissance groups.”
Additionally, they noted that “as part of maneuver actions, missile units and subdivisions practice tasks of dispersing in a forest area to enhance the stealth of the Yars PGRK units.”
The Yars ICBM reportedly has a range of about 11,000 to 12,000 kilometers and can carry up to four multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads, each with a yield of approximately 500 kilotons.
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