Ballistic missile launched from Vandenberg

[unhappycamper]

Ballistic missile launched from Vandenberg
Staff report
Posted : Thursday Apr 3, 2008 10:01:13 EDT

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., early Wednesday morning as part of an operational test.

The missile’s re-entry vehicle successfully struck its target 4,200 miles away from Vandenberg at the Reagan Test Site located in the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, said Maj. Tina Barber-Matthew, a Vandenberg spokeswoman.

“We met our test objectives but ultimately proved our nation’s nuclear ICBM force is reliable and will continue to play a vital role in deterrence and security of our United States,” said Lt. Col. Lesa Toler, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander.

Both the 576th and the 30th Space Wing worked together to execute the Minuteman III test launch.

The launch comes in the midst of increased scrutiny directed at the Air Force and Defense Department following last week’s announcement of a mistaken shipment of secret ballistic missile fuses to Taiwan.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/airforce_test_launch_040308w/