Overview

• An unarmed U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile, the Minuteman 3, was intentionally destroyed over the Pacific Ocean due to an anomaly during a test launch from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The cause of this anomaly is currently being investigated.
• The Minuteman missile system, one of the key pillars of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, has been in operation for several decades. It is routinely tested to maintain its effectiveness and for identification and correction of any issues.
• Amidst concerns about its aging infrastructure, the U.S. Air Force plans to replace the Minuteman system with a new weapon, the LGM-35A Sentinel. This change is planned to start in 2029 and to be fully completed by mid-2030s.
• Russian sources have responded to this incident with mockery, underscoring the age and possible obsolescence of the Minuteman missile system. This laughter from Russia comes amidst its own significant weapon tests.
• The event comes amid rising tensions with Moscow, which recently revoked its ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and executed a series of successful missile launches. Russia, however, experienced several unsuccessful tests with its next-generation weaponry.