MAFB Missile, Part 3

This week we've been showing you the details behind the test fire of an unarmed minuteman-three m...  More »

This week we've been showing you the details behind the test fire of an unarmed minuteman-three missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The ICB missile was one from a silo near the Minot Air Force Base and the test fire was a complete success. Tonight Shaun Sipma wraps up his series of stories from California with a look at the missile itself. It's touted as the backbone of our nuclear deterrence, the Minute Man III Inter Continental Ballistic Missile. First put into service in 1970 has been upgraded with new booster and guidance systems along with state of the art re-entry system that is designed to carry three Nuclear war heads is set to stay in service until 2040. (Major General Roger Berg, Commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Space Command, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) andamp;quot;We have reinvested in new capability and so what has been in the field for 30 years has been replaced.andamp;quot; 450 Minuteman III ICMB missiles are now stationed and ready for launch around three different Air Force Bases in the U.S. Minot Air Force Base, F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. The Missiles are nearly 60 feet tall and have a range of 8,100 miles. The test at Vandenberg Air Force Base Monday morning sent the unarmed ICB missile only 4,200 miles to Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marshal Islands in the south Pacific. The missile successful dropped three GPS re-entry vehicles, which in a war time launch would be nuclear warheads. (Col. Chris Ayres, MAFB 91st Missile Wing Commander) andamp;quot;It's a very fast missile so we will continue to collect test data and response from all our test equipment from around the launch area and use it to improve upon what we already have.andamp;quot; The test Monday was touted as a complete success by the Air Force of the weapons system. The 30 year old design that has been rebuilt hit it's three targets in the South Pacific, proving the reliability of not only the missile but the people who are in charge of maintaining them. (Major General Roger Berg, Commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Space Command, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) It's exciting to see a young airman who built this missile up, proud of the work that they've done.andamp;quot; (Jason Schuhmacher, Master Sgt. Maintenance NCOC for the Task Force) andamp;quot;It's a dream come true. As an airman I've participated as a tea member on two of them and to lead a team out here it's amazing. (Major General Roger Berg, Commander of the 20th Air Force, Air Space Command, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) andamp;quot;Very proud of Colonel Ayres and the Roughriders of the 91st.andamp;quot; At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Shaun Sipma KX News. Air Force officials say that the test of a Minuteman III ICMB missile costs roughly 21 million dollars.  « Less