A controversial election day missile launch by the US military was a success, according to officials who insist the test had nothing to do with ‘world events.’
The intercontinental ballistic missile exercise took place at 11pm PT (2am ET) last night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California – just hours after Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election.
While the timing of the launch raised eyebrows, officials insisted the test is routine and was scheduled years in advance.
Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, said: ‘These tests are demonstrative of what Striker Airmen bring to the fight if called by the president.
‘An airborne launch validates the survivability of our ICBMs, which serve as the strategic backstop of our nation’s defense and defense of allies and partners.’
He added: ‘Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.’
But the test comes as Trump claims the world is close to nuclear war, claiming he will withdraw America’s support for Ukraine in war with Russia before he is sworn in on January 20.
The US military conducted a test launch of its hypersonic nuclear missile on election night
The exercise kicked off at 11:01pm PT (2:01am ET) on Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
The nuclear missile took off in the dead of night, traveling 15,000 miles per hour to a test range near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
It completed the 4,200 mile journey in about 22 minutes.
Military officials collected radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.
The weapon is capable of carrying three Mk 12A nuclear warheads, each packing up to 350,000 tons of TNT.
While the Associated Press called Wisconsin at 2:34am (5:34amET) on Wednesday and the PRESIDENTIAL?? race just three minutes later, Newsmax made the projection at about two hours earlier.
However, the official call was not made until Wednesday after Trump collected 277 electoral votes.
Trump has received over 71 million votes as of Wednesday morning, compared to Kamala Harris’ 66 million, becoming the first republican to win the popular vote since George Bush in 2004.
The hypersonic weapon was designed to hit any target worldwide in just 30 minutes after launch.
Moscow sits about 5,900 miles from California, while Beijing is about 6,000 miles away – the two nations deemed a threat to the US.
The test came less than a week after North Korean vowed to stand by Russia until its victory in Ukraine.
And just days of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the US and Russia are very close to engaging in ‘direct military conflict.’
The test kicked off shortly after Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election
Military officials, however, ensure Americans that the test was not the result of current world events’
A report from the Wall Street Journal in May claimed that the US Marines and the Philippines had been carrying out ominous war games on small islands a short distance from Taiwan.
The exercises included deploying teams of marines from Chinook helicopters, readying unarmed assault rifles, and scoping out terrain that would hypothetically be used if conflict erupted.
However, military officials involved with the ICBM test assured Americans that Tuesday’s exercise was not due to growing fears of WWIII.
Col. Dorian Hatcher, Space Launch Delta 30 deputy commander, said: ‘This Minuteman III test launch exemplified the mission readiness, agility and professionalism of the personnel at Vandenberg, Global Strike Command and the US Navy.
‘Every test of this deterrent system at Vandenberg underscores the nations robust capabilities and highlights the indispensable support our Airmen and Guardians provide to ensure national security.’
The weapon traveled more than 4,000 miles at speeds over 15,000 miles per hour to a test range on the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean
ICBM is one of two currently used by America – the other is submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are deployed from underwater submarines.
The weapon is a vital component of the US military’s nuclear forces, capable of delivering a nuclear payload to targets around the world, but is scheduled to be phased out by 2029 and replaced with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.
The US Air Force said that ‘the Sentinel weapon system is the most cost-effective option for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective land-based leg of the nuclear triad and would extend its capabilities through 2075.’
The LG-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM with an initial capability of 2029.
Until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, the Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.
Army Lt. Col. Casel Rumfelt, Range Director, said: ‘This range and testing facilitate America’s technical advantage on the global stage.
‘Our team brings decades of experience and a level of professionalism that makes the impossible seem easy in a no-fail environment. I couldn’t be prouder of this incredible team.’
