The failure of the launch of the US military's active land-based intercontinental missile has aroused concern.
Recently, a shocking incident occurred in the United States, when the only land-based intercontinental nuclear missile in service in the US military failed to be launched during a surprise inspection. This one is called"LGM-30G Minuteman 3"The ICBM is the core component of the US land-based nuclear forces and the only land-based ICBM currently in service with the US military. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
It is reported that before the official launch, the US Department of Defense plans to test-fire a Minuteman-3 intercontinental ballistic missile without a warhead from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to test its performance and combat readiness. However, as the countdown to the missile launch began, the computer detected a malfunction that caused the launch system to be shut down and the missile launch to be aborted. The US side said that the launch can be carried out only if all the safety parameters of the test site and the missile are met.
This incident raised concerns about the US nuclear forces. The United States is one of the most powerful nuclear forces in the world today, with 1,600 active nuclear weapons** and nearly 2,000 nuclear weapons in various reserves. The U.S. Navy is equipped with the largest number of strategic nuclear submarines in the world, with a total of 14, and it is also the military branch with the largest number of nuclear warheads.
But at all times, land-based ICBMs are the key that cannot be replaced**. The U.S. military regularly conducts surprise inspections, randomly launching a land-based intercontinental nuclear missile to ensure its combat readiness. As the only land-based intercontinental ballistic missile in service with the US military, the Minuteman-3 missile has a global strike capability, a range of up to 12,000 kilometers, and the fastest response speed. Although it does not possess a mobile launch capability, its position in the U.S. nuclear forces remains unassailable.
In addition, it is not the first time that problems have arisen with the Minuteman 3 missile. Back in 2018, a launched Minuteman-3 missile suddenly became abnormal during flight, which eventually initiated the self-destruct procedure. This may indicate that as the Minuteman 3 missile is in service for an extended period of time, the aging of its parts and equipment is gradually increasing, which can lead to some unforeseen failures and failures.
Although the development of a new missile has begun, it is still some time before it enters service. As a result, the Minuteman 3 missile can barely remain in service until it is replaced by a new model. However, the current accident shows that the Minuteman 3 missile has entered the end of its life and faces more and more challenges.
The missile launch failure has sparked concern and discussion about U.S. nuclear forces. This incident is of great significance both for the US military's own arms race and for global nuclear security. In the future, we need to pay close attention to the development of US nuclear forces and related international military developments, as well as the possible implications and changes.