USA Reveals Launch Scene of 'Minuteman-3'... Why?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The U.S. Air Force has released footage of a test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Minuteman-3' without a warhead, drawing attention to the background of the event.

On the 5th, the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) announced on its website that it had launched a 'Minuteman-3' equipped with three reentry vehicles at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The Minuteman-3 was launched without a warhead, using the Airborne Launch Control System. The launch time was around 00:21 on the 4th (local time).

The reentry vehicles flew approximately 4,200 miles (6,760 km) to reach the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The atmospheric reentry technology of ICBMs is the technology that allows ballistic missiles to exit and then reenter the atmosphere.

The U.S. Air Force released photos of the launch and emphasized that this test launch "demonstrates that the United States' nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable, and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring our allies."

Up to 400 LGM-30G Minuteman-3 missiles, among the three major nuclear forces, have the fastest response time. When launched from ICBM silos (underground bunkers) in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, they can reach North Korean airspace in about 30 minutes at speeds up to Mach 23. The basic specifications include a weight of 36 tons, a diameter of 1.67 meters, three solid-fuel motors, a range of about 9,600 km, and a speed of Mach 23.

This test launch disclosure is notable as it came shortly after a United Nations assessment suggested that North Korea may have succeeded in 'miniaturizing nuclear warheads.' Although the launch itself was likely scheduled in advance, the rapid and deliberate release of launch photos and details is analyzed as a veiled warning message to North Korea and China.

The previous day, Reuters reported that it had obtained a report from the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee expert panel, stating that some member countries assessed that "(North Korea) has probably developed a miniaturized nuclear device that can fit into its ballistic missile warheads."

The smaller the nuclear warhead, the lighter the overall missile weight, allowing it to travel farther, making 'atmospheric reentry' a core technology in ICBM development.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.