US Military Successfully Tests Unarmed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on 4,200-Mile Flight

The United States military successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) early on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, as part of a scheduled test to show the readiness of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

This test was pre-planned months in advance and is not linked to any current global conflict, the U.S. Space Force confirmed.

Flight Details

The missile took off at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. Pacific Time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It traveled 4,200 miles (6,760 kilometers) before hitting its target at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in Kwajalein Atoll, located in the Marshall Islands.

Who Conducted the Launch

The test was led by the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, with support from:

• 90th Missile Wing (F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming)

• 341st Missile Wing (Malmstrom AFB, Montana)

General Thomas Bussiere, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, praised the Airmen involved, stating:

“This ICBM test highlights the strength of our nuclear defense and the readiness of our strategic missile forces.”

America’s Nuclear Triad

This missile test is part of maintaining the U.S. nuclear triad, which includes:

• Land-based missiles like the Minuteman III

• Submarine-launched missiles

• Airborne nuclear weapons

These three parts work together to protect the United States and its allies.

Future Plans: Replacing Minuteman III

The Minuteman III, in service for decades, will be phased out by 2030 and replaced by the advanced LGM-35 Sentinel, being developed by Northrop Grumman.

How ICBMs Work

ICBMs use rocket engines to leave Earth’s atmosphere and reenter on ballistic paths. They can travel over 3,400 miles (5,500 km) and can carry multiple warheads.

However, the Minuteman III has carried only one warhead since 2014 under international arms reduction treaties.

New Threat: Hypersonic Weapons

Modern militaries are developing hypersonic reentry vehicles. These glide at ultra-fast speeds and can change direction mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.

History of ICBMs

• The first ICBM was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957 using rocket tech that sent Sputnik into space.

• The U.S. followed with the SM-65 Atlas, which helped launch the first Mercury astronauts.

• The Atlas rocket family, including the Atlas V, continues to be used for major space missions today.

Related Missile Tests

• Two unarmed ICBMs launched by the U.S. in two days

• Atlas V rocket launched missile-tracking satellite for the U.S. Space Force

• North Korea launched ICBM with record-breaking 74-minute flight