How many Minuteman III missiles are there?
Table of Contents
How many Minuteman III missiles are there?
400 Minuteman III missiles
At present there are 400 Minuteman III missiles operational on the Great Plains. These are based out of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
Is Minuteman III nuclear?
Minuteman III is a long-range, solid-fuel, three-stage ICBM with the capability to carry single or multiple nuclear warheads. The missile is powered by three solid-fuel rocket engines and weighs 36,030kg (79,432lb).
How destructive is a Minuteman missile?
Less destructive force was now needed to destroy targets. Over the years, the Minuteman III has held warheads with 170, 340 and 450 kilotons of explosive power.
How tall is a Minuteman missile?
| LGM-30 Minuteman | |
|---|---|
| Length | 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m) (Minuteman-I/A) 55 ft 11 in (17.04 m) (Minuteman-I/B) 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) (Minuteman-II) 59.9 ft (18.3 m) (Minuteman-III) |
| Diameter | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) (1st stage) |
| Warhead | MMI: W59 (retired) MMI and MMII: W56 (retired) MMIII: W62 (retired), W78 (active), or W87 (active) |
How fast is a Minuteman missile?
Approximately 15,000 mph
General Characteristics
| Primary Function: | Intercontinental ballistic missile |
|---|---|
| Speed: | Approximately 15,000 mph (Mach 23 or 24,000 kph) at burnout |
| Range: | 6,000-plus miles (5,218 nautical miles) |
| Ceiling: | 700 miles (1,120 kilometers) |
| Payload: | Re-entry vehicle: General Electric MK 12 or MK 12A |
What is the Minuteman III ICBM?
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test Oct. 29, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. ICBM test launches demonstrate the U.S. nuclear enterprise is safe, secure, effective and ready to defend the United States and its allies.
How reliable is the Minuteman III?
Multiple flight tests of the Minuteman III each year out of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., give us confidence and our adversaries pause. In other, more specialized tests, the Air Force demonstrates how the Minuteman III can consistently deliver nuclear destruction reliably and accurately despite enemy attacks.
Where does Minuteman III take place?
Many of those tests occur at the very specialized environmental test facility north west of Hill AFB, Utah, called Little Mountain. All of that, and much more, is Minuteman III and the team meeting the deterrence mission, which is:
What is an ICBM and why do we need one?
ICBMs provide the U.S. and its allies the necessary deterrent capability to maintain freedom to operate and navigate globally in accordance with international laws and norms. (Air Force photograph by Michael Peterson)