VIDEO: US Launches Unarmed Version of ‘Minuteman III’

The US is launching an unarmed version of the nuclear-capable ‘Minuteman III’ amid North Korea tensions.

According to Viral 4 Real, the report says it is enough to wipe enemies all at once from the face of the earth.

On April 26, an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been launched from a US Air Force base in California to ensure its “effectiveness, readiness and accuracy,” and demonstrate “national nuclear capabilities,” according to the US military. The ICBM a.k.a. Minuteman III missile test comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Col. John Moss, commander of the Air Force’s 30th Space Wing, said: “Tonight’s launch was an important demonstration of our nation’s nuclear deterrent capability.”

North Korea conducted a missile test of its own on April 16, and some experts have speculated that the nation is gearing up to perform its sixth nuclear-weapons test soon as well.

MINUTEMAN III SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for Wednesday, April. 26, between 12:01 a.m. to 6:01 a.m. from north Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

Col. John Moss, 30th Space Wing commander, is the launch decision authority.

“Team V is once again ready to work with Air Force Global Strike Command to successfully launch another Minuteman III missile,” said Moss.

“These Minuteman launches are essential to verify the status of our national nuclear force and to demonstrate our national nuclear capabilities. We are proud of our long history in partnering with the men and women of the 576th Flight Test Squadron to execute these missions for the nation.”

The 576th Flight Test Squadron will be responsible for installed tracking, telemetry, and command destruct systems on the missile.

Moss added: “Test launches like this one are vital to validating the effectiveness and readiness of our operational nuclear systems, so it is critical that they are successful.

“The men and women of the 30th Space Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command’s 576th Flight Test Squadron did a fantastic job working together to make tonight’s launch possible and successful.”

The Minuteman III, a three-stage ICBM, can be outfitted with a nuclear warhead with a yield of 170 kilotons, and travel for 4,000 miles.

According to Wikipedia, development of the Minuteman began in the mid-1950s as the outgrowth of basic research into solid fuel rocket motors which indicated an ICBM based on solids was possible. Such a missile could stand ready for extended periods of time with little maintenance, and then launch on command.

In comparison, existing U.S. missile designs using liquid fuels required a lengthy fueling process immediately before launch, which left them open to the possibility of surprise attack. This potential for immediate launch gave the missile its name; like the Revolutionary War’s Minutemen, the Minuteman was designed to be launched on a moment’s notice.