This week, the US test-fired two unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which are designed to carry nuclear warheads and are part of the US nuclear triad.
The tests come amid soaring tensions between the US and Russia over the proxy war in Ukraine. The US Air Force insisted the two tests had nothing to do with “current world events,” although the US has previously canceled ICBM tests due to tensions with Russia.
According to Defense News, the tests were conducted on June 4 and June 6. The ICBMs were launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and both the Air Force and Space Force were involved in the tests.
The missiles’ re-entry vehicles, the top part of the ICBM that would be armed with a nuclear warhead in the event of a nuclear strike, traveled about 4,200 miles to the Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, which is located on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The ICBM launches came a few weeks after Russia conducted drills simulating the use of strategic nuclear weapons, which came in direct response to provocative rhetoric from Western officials. Russia pointed specifically to talk about NATO sending troops to Ukraine.
Despite Russia’s warnings, France could soon announce that it’s sending troops to Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces. The US also took a huge escalatory step in the Ukraine proxy war last week by letting Ukraine target Russian territory with US weapons.
Experts have written for decades that land-based nukes–the oldest, least-maintained and -updated weapons in the US WMD triad–are more and more likely to fail if ever fired in anger. Let's hope this is true, and that any "armed" Minutemen perform like the duds just tested: with a thud.
They most likely will but the latest Russian Topol M will be a different story
Those missile have been updated routinely. Critical parts like motors get replaced. The fuel is replaced on a regular bases. The guidance systems and war heads get replaced. Only the shell stays the same. Will some fail on firing? Of course. The air force has a estimated failure rate based on testing and design factors. Of course that is a secret.
Are your claims well-documented? Are you confident with the state of competency and expertise on the parts of developers, contractors and maintenance people? The purity of the fuel? The integrity of the shells? Too many more issues to raise here, but I think you get my point. Actually, if armed and launched, I hope they all fail. Along with all fired by any alleged enemy.
From your lips…
???
…to God’s ears.
Really wasn’t aiming there, but I’m always grateful to be heard by Him.
Yes, I am confident in what I said. Having been a system engineer for 40 years and having worked on systems for the Navy, I know how things are done. There are all kind of checks and balances to make sure parts are tested and work. The fuel is good example. It is tested in the lab before inserting into the rocket. And of course, there is the total system test which is done by firing the rocket down range.
Nothing is perfect and some failures will occur. All systems have failure analyst which give an estimate of the success rate. God forbid if those rockets are ever lunched, most will fly successfully.
Thx, Tim. Sincerely. I hope your bottom line prediction is wrong, but you presented your creds credibly.
I hope those things are never used. I wish I could tell you more about system that the Navy used to insure the thing I involve with worked. But I would end up in jail.
This test comes after the attack on two critical Russian early warning radar systems. These systems are designed to detect ballistic missile attacks on the Russian nuclear deterrent. The US has also pre deployed the B 61 variant 11 and possibility variant 12. The latter is designed as a decapitation weapon for command and control hardened bunkers and continuity of government deep bunkers.
The US just escalated again. Twice in the last two weeks. The Russians must be considering that the US is preparing a first strike nuclear attack.
We are on the brink. This is insane.
We've been on the brink ever since the two parties made reading Mein Kampf mandatory.
Chill, Dude: It's just do what Uncool Sam says, or everybody dies.
It was always most plausible that the nuclear Armageddon would be unleashed either as we confidently fantasize to have everything under control, sleepwalk right into it or as the consequence of an accident or misunderstanding.
It is not a decision that is able to be made rationally by people of sound mind who know what they are doing. That is just not a thing. And if Western leaders are so desperately intent on committing suicide why not install rope dispensers at the entrance of each and all of their respective parlements? You have to think constructively and take a problem solving approach on the matter.
Many of the highest ranking US and EU politicians truly are as ignorant as they are arrogant ànd are not rational. As has been clearly demonstrated by the relentless succession of irrational decisions that brought us into this mess that no one in this congretation of sad imbeciles have any clue about how to extricate from.
For those that advocate for a suicide pact? My answer is YOU FIRST!
I didn't know that these evil fools attacked a Russian early warning system. I thought that was Russia's red line that would cause it to launch nukes.
These people are total psychopaths, we'll be lucky to avoid nuclear war at this point. I can't bring myself to imagine or understand how someone could even contemplate getting anywhere near nuclear war, but then again I don't think nor feel like these people do.
"The US Air Force insisted the two tests had nothing to do with 'current world events'…" Dudes! LOL. …You know what. I checked with my neighbors. They still believe you.
"Wont you be my neighbor?"
Why Two tests…?! The first one failed…?!
Repeatability. It is important to see if both missiles reacted the same way.
They didn't…!
You don't know and will never know what they were testing or the results of the tests. Detailed information on the tests are not released with exception if they have to destroy a missile in flight like they did last November. It is hard to keep that a secret.
Well, boys, I reckon this is it:
Nuclear combat toe-to-toe with the Russkies.
Did you read the Putin interview? He clearly is saner than our guys.
Always.
Sane and insane are like day and night.
Never have rival powers been so distal on the kakistocracy spectrum.
Scary as it is, I expect US empire to collapse in important preview of the End-Anthropocene:
🥱😧
Not completely comfortable upvoting this for obvious reasons but I tend to agree.
Well I’m not comfortable until you’re not comfortable, Dread.
Smart ass. 😉
<| ;°)
Yawn. Just Uncle Sam polishing his war probe.
He's about to get Bobbitted.
Give Kiev the OK to take out early warning sites in Russia + test fire two Minuteman ICBMs + D-day comment by President Bidette that it is good to kill Russians = "On the Beach" scenario ahead.
Are these guys thinking about going to war?….WWIII?….
Lot of good those would be. Russia would take out all the land-based ICBMs in minutes with their hypersonic missiles. The only reasonably effective missiles the US has are from the submarine fleet – and to the degree those are Tomahawks, which are old and slow, Russia can probably shoot most of those down with S-400, S-500 and S-550 air defenses.
Meanwhile, the US has absolutely ZERO defense against Russian ICBMs and hypersonic missiles and glide vehicles. Not to mention the Poseidon nuclear submarine drone which would cover the eastern and western seaboards with 100 feet of radioactive seawater.
One can be sure the US has its own weapons on a scale equal to or greator to the Russian Poseidon nuclear drones that were developed with dark money that not even Congress or the President knows about.
Not even Congress or the President knows about it, but you do?
Very doubtful. Of course, any sub can deliver a bomb on the seabed and get a similar result. But this drone LOITERS and is maneuverable on its own.
In case you didn't get the memo, no one wins a nuclear war. Russia has a dooms day machine, and the U.S. probably has one too. Regardless, if nukes get launched by either side, it's over for everyone. Unfortunately, by "everyone" I don't mean humans, I mean the Earth and all the life here.