Just withdrew from INF, US test-fired intercontinental missile to "test Russia's mettle"
An unarmed Minuteman III missile traveled 6,760 km to a target in the Pacific Ocean.
| The US tested the Minuteman III intercontinental missile on February 5. Video:US Air Force. |
The US military on February 5 launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The test launch was aimed at gathering information on the accuracy and reliability of the Minuteman III and was the third launch this year at Vandenberg base.Newsweekreport
The Minuteman III missile traveled about 6,760 km to a target located on the Kwajalein Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Ninety minutes after the US tested the Minuteman III, the Russian military test-fired an RS-24 Yars missile from Plesetsk airport in the Arkhangelsk region, targeting a target about 4,828 km away.
The Minuteman III missile test took place after the US announced last week that it would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in six months, citing Russia's violations of the treaty. Russia confirmed that it would also withdraw from the INF in six months in response to the US move. Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 2 ordered the military to develop medium-range hypersonic missiles.
The LGM-30G Minuteman III missile has been in service with the US military since 1970 with a range of 13,000 km. Long-range missiles such as the Minuteman III are not banned under the INF treaty signed by the Soviet Union and the US in 1987. The INF treaty prohibits the parties from developing ground-launched cruise missiles with a range of 500 - 5,500 km.
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