File photo of an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile being tested from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
| Photo Credit: AP
The United States has carried out a test launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), often referred to as the “doomsday missile”, at a time when tensions with Iran remain high.
The Air Force Global Strike Command of the U.S. said the test took place on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In a statement issued on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), the U.S. Air Force Command noted that the missile, carrying two re-entry vehicles, travelled several thousand miles before reaching its planned impact zone near the Marshall Islands in the west‑central Pacific Ocean.
The statement said that the launch had been scheduled years in advance and was not linked to any ongoing global developments. The U.S. Space Force said the test formed part of a long‑running programme that involves more than 300 similar launches intended to assess the reliability and readiness of the system. According to the statement, data gathered from these routine tests supports current and future force planning.
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What is the Minuteman III?
The Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile and forms one of the three pillars of the United States’ nuclear triad. The other two components are strategic bombers, which include aircraft such as the B‑52 Stratofortress and B‑2 Spirit, and submarine‑launched ballistic missiles deployed on U.S. Navy submarines.
The missile is nuclear‑capable and typically fitted with a single Mark 21 high‑fidelity re‑entry vehicle. It has long been regarded as a central element of the U.S. strategic deterrent. With a range exceeding 6,000 miles and speeds of roughly 15,000 miles per hour, it is designed to reach targets across continents within minutes.
Missiles are positioned in reinforced underground silos that are intended to withstand attacks. Each silo is connected to a subterranean launch control centre through hardened communication lines.
Why it is called a ‘doomsday’ missile?
The Minuteman III is often described as a “doomsday” missile because of the devastating consequences associated with a nuclear strike, particularly the widespread radiation fallout that could render large areas uninhabitable.
It is the only land‑based, silo‑deployed, nuclear‑capable ballistic missile currently in the U.S. arsenal and is designed for rapid response in the event of a nuclear attack. As an ICBM, it can cross continents at hypersonic speeds and can reach almost any location in the world.
The missile is capable of carrying multiple independently targetable re‑entry vehicles, which allow a single launch to strike several locations. Although the system can hold up to three warheads, the current Minuteman III carries only one, in line with a nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia.
Published – March 05, 2026 03:57 pm IST
