ND delegation attends Minuteman III launch at Vandenberg base
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Minot Area Chamber EDC's Task Force 21 led a delegation of North Dakota officials on a strategic military engagement with Minot Air Force Base and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) to the 377 Test and Evaluation Group at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. They returned from the four-day trip on Thursday.
The visit included mission briefs, meeting with military leadership and the test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that was pulled from North Dakota's missile complex and transported to Vandenberg Space Force Base for the test. The 20-member delegation included Department of Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen, City of Minot Mayor Tom Ross, legislators and MACEDC leadership. The launch was also attended by South Korean defense officials.
"The missile launch test exercise helps solidify North Dakota's position as one of the United States' most strategic military powers for peace in the world," Teigen said. "The Minot Air Force Base is the gold standard for military excellence, and this exercise sends a clear message to our global adversaries that North Dakota and the United States stand ready to feed, fuel and defend the world. Immense gratitude to our service men and women for the work they do every day to further global stability. You make North Dakota proud."
The test launch is part of a routine and periodic activity intended to demonstrate that the United States' nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st Century threats and reassure allies. Such tests have occurred more than 300 times. The test launch program helps the command evaluate the Minuteman III ICBM and gather data to keep the system effective. The command learns lessons from every test launch. Gathering data from the launch allows AFGSC to identify and correct any issues with the weapon system to ensure the Minuteman III's continued reliability and accuracy.
The unarmed Minuteman II ICBM was safely terminated by Space Launch Delta 30 last Wednesday over the Pacific Ocean due to an anomaly during the test launch.
The LGM-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM, starting in 2029. Until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, the Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent, according to an AFGSC release.
"North Dakota understands the importance of supporting military, and this engagement allowed leaders from across the state an opportunity to come together to learn more about ND's unique role in protecting the nation and the work ahead to support the full transition from Minuteman III missiles to Sentinel," said Brekka Kramer, president and CEO of Minot Area Chamber EDC. "Minot will be the third and last Air Force base to receive Sentinel and will be operating the Minuteman III ICBM until the new weapon system is in place. This a major modernization project we need to support at all levels and see all the way through."
Minot Air Force Base is home to two major Air Force units: the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, which are Air Force Global Strike Command units.