US Tests Nuclear-Capable Doomsday Ballistic Missile As Iran War Escalates

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 10:46 IST

The US tested the Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The unarmed missile hit its target near the Marshall Islands, verifying its readiness.

The United States on Tuesday night tested a doomsday ballistic missile off the California coast amid the raging war in West Asia.

The Minuteman III ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara at 11 pm on Tuesday. The missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which are 20 times more powerful than the atomic bombs which were dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Click Here To Follow Live Updates

According to the US Space Force, the unarmed rocket – called GT 254 – was able to hit its intended target near the Marshall Islands in the west-central Pacific Ocean.

According to the Air Force Global Strike Command, the missile was fired to “verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy".

“[It] allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system," said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, in a press release.

“By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire [Intercontinental Ballistic Missile] fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad," he added.

Also Read: ‘They Took Out The Eyes!’: How Iranian Attack On 5,000 Km Range Ballistic Radar Has ‘Blinded’ US

The test launch comes days after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at his compound in Tehran, triggering a wider conflict in the region.

US President Donald Trump later warned that Washington would intensify military action against Iran, saying “the big one is coming".

However, the Air Force Global Strike Command said Tuesday’s launch was a routine test that had been scheduled years in advance and was not linked to current geopolitical developments.

The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a key component of the US nuclear triad — the country’s strategic deterrence system that allows nuclear weapons to be delivered from land, sea and air.

The missiles are housed in underground silos across the western United States and are designed to ensure a retaliatory strike capability in the event of a nuclear attack.

A Minuteman III was also test-launched in November after Trump called for restarting nuclear weapons testing.

According to the US Air Force, the missile has a range of about 6,000 miles and can travel at speeds exceeding 15,000 miles per hour, enabling it to strike targets across the globe.

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