Overview

• The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 21, 2025.
• The missile traveled approximately 4,200 miles at over 15,000 miles per hour, landing at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands.
• Officials emphasized the test was routine, not a response to global events, and part of over 300 similar tests to validate the system's safety and effectiveness.
• The Minuteman III, a cornerstone of the U.S. nuclear triad, is slated for replacement by the Sentinel system, with modernization efforts expected to begin in 2029.
• Advance notifications were provided to Moscow and other nations under international agreements to prevent misinterpretation of the test.