The U.S. Air Force is conducting an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile between 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 5 to 5:01 a.m. Pacific on Nov. 6 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Calif.

The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

“This test is routine and was scheduled years in advance. Consistent with previous test launches, this ICBM test launch will validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system,” according to AFGSC.

Air Force conducts first of two ICBM test launches this week

In accordance with standard procedures, the U.S. transmitted a pre-launch notification pursuant to the Hague Code of Conduct, and notified the Russian government in advance, per existing bilateral obligations, according to AFGSC.

For the test launches, missiles are pulled from the missile field at one of the three ICBM bases and transported to Vandenberg. There, crews from the missile bases place the missile in a silo and conduct a test launch.

This launch will use a missile and crews from the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB in North Dakota.

ICBM test launch terminated [2023]

The Operations Task Force includes personnel from all there missile wings, including Malmstrom AFB; the 377th Test and Evaluation Group at Vandenberg and the 626th Strategic Operations Squadron from Offutt AFB in Nebraska, according to AFGSC.

During a June test launch, AFGSC said, “this test launch is part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies. Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.”

The June 6 launch was conducted with maintainers from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom.

Air Force conducts ICBM test launch with Malmstrom crew [2023]

The ICBM community includes the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Strategic Command. Those agencies use data collected from test launches for continuing force development evaluation.

The Air Force is currently in the process of replacing the Minuteman with the Sentinel LG-35A missile system.

AF Under Secretary visits Malmstrom, talks Sentinel conversion progress

It’s scheduled to have an initial capability in 2029 and until it reaches full capability in the mid-2030s ,the Air Force will continue using the Minuteman III system for nuclear deterrence.