The US will launch two intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The US will launch two Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles on June 4th and 6th.
According to RIA Novosti, the US Space Command announced that the United States will launch two Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles next week.
"The first test is scheduled to take place on June 4th from 12:01 to 06:01 (local time) from North Vandenberg. The second test is scheduled to take place on June 6th from 12:01 to 06:01 from North Vandenberg," the announcement stated.
The tests will be conducted to “demonstrate the readiness of the nuclear forces and test their effectiveness.”
The US command clarified that the US had warned Russia about the upcoming launches.
On May 30, the US Navy conducted a test interception of the SM-6 Dual II medium-range ballistic missile. The Pentagon stated that the test demonstrated "the ability to identify, track, and intercept medium-range ballistic missiles during their final flight phase."
The US Minuteman III missile has been in service since the 1970s. The new Sentinel ICBM is intended to replace the Minuteman III, but it has limitations.
Defense One, citing documents from the US Air Force, reports that the first Sentinel tests have been delayed until February 2026 due to delays in component supply, even though testing was previously planned to begin in December 2023.
The highly anticipated next-generation ICBM program in the U.S. is encountering setbacks, primarily due to soaring costs compared to previous estimates. The program is facing criticism for exceeding its initial budget by 37% as of January 2024. This triggers the Nunn-McCurdy Violation Act, meaning the Secretary of Defense must now intervene to review the project.
