US Tests Minuteman III ICBM From California as Putin Weighs Return to Nuclear Trials

The US Air Force Global Strike Command tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on October 3, according to the official statement.

The missile flew roughly 7,000 kilometers to a test range at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the command said.

“The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system,” the Air Force Global Strike Command noted, adding that the test was “routine and scheduled years in advance” and “not related to current world events.”

On the same day, the Russian leader held a meeting of the Security Council, during which Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stated that Russia should prepare for “full-scale nuclear tests” in response to what he called “US actions.”

According to Russian media, as cited by Ukrainska Pravda, Belousov stated Washington intends to deploy missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific with flight times of only six to seven minutes from Germany to central Russia.

Following the meeting, the Russian leader ordered the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, intelligence agencies, and relevant civilian bodies to “prepare proposals on the feasibility of initiating preparations for nuclear tests,” according to the Kremlin’s statement.

Earlier, it was reported that the US is modernizing its nuclear weapons, refurbishing aging warheads (such as the B61‑12) and updating its arsenal to maintain deterrence in the face of Russian threats and the breakdown of arms‑control pacts.

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