US Tests Nuclear-Capable Doomsday Ballistic Missile As Iran War Escalates

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 10:43 IST

The US tested the Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The unarmed missile hit its target near the Marshall Islands, verifying its readiness.

The United States on Tuesday night tested a doomsday ballistic missile off the California coast amid the raging war in West Asia.

The Minuteman III ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara at 11 pm on Tuesday. The missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which are 20 times more powerful than the atomic bombs which were dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Click Here To Follow Live Updates

According to the US Space Force, the unarmed rocket – called GT 254 – was able to hit its intended target near the Marshall Islands in the west-central Pacific Ocean.

According to the Air Force Global Strike Command, the missile was fired to “verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy".

“[It] allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system," said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, in a press release.

“By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire [Intercontinental Ballistic Missile] fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad," he added.

News world US Tests Nuclear-Capable Doomsday Ballistic Missile As Iran War Escalates

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