* The ICBM travelled 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands
* The U.S. has 400 of the missiles in its nuclear arsenal - Each costs $7 million
* Officials stressed the test was planned and not in response to current events
* Launch was to demonstrate the nuclear deterrent is 'safe, secure and effective'
The U.S. Airforce has launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California in the latest in a series of tests.
The Minuteman III ICBM was equipped with a test reentry vehicle and was launched at 12.27 a.m. on October 29, according to an Air Force news release. Officials stressed that the test was planned well in advance and was not a reaction to current events.
The ICBM's reentry vehicle travelled 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, at the speed of 15,000mph. A single Minuteman III costs $7 million.
Read more ....
Update: Watch a test launch of a Minuteman 3 ICBM (Air Force Times)
WNU Editor: To replace the Minutemann III ICBM will cost $95 billion .... Pentagon estimates $95 billion cost for new ICBM nukes to replace Minuteman III (American Military News).
