Overview
- Vandenberg Space Force Base said the operational test is set for a window between 11:01 p.m. and 5:01 a.m. Pacific on Nov. 4–5 from the base’s northern area.
- The 30th Space Wing confirmed the missile will be an unarmed Minuteman III and characterized the event as a standard test scheduled years in advance.
- Newsweek previously reported navigational notices indicating a trajectory toward the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, though the Pentagon has not issued a destination in its release.
- President Donald Trump has said he instructed the Pentagon to resume testing of nuclear systems, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified this refers to non‑detonation component testing.
- The planned launch follows a May Minuteman III flight over the Pacific and September tests of four unarmed Trident II D5 missiles, with about 400 Minuteman III missiles assessed to be in U.S. silos.