Can strike anywhere on earth: US tests nuclear capable 'doomsday missile' as war with Iran escalates
PTC News Desk: As the war in the Middle East entered its sixth day, the United States conducted a test launch of its nuclear-capable LGM-30G Minuteman III, often called the “doomsday missile.” The missile can carry warheads that are up to 20 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
On Tuesday night, the Air Force Global Strike Command launched an unarmed Minuteman III from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The missile carried two test re-entry vehicles.
According to the United States Space Force, the missile — identified as test vehicle GT-255 — was launched as part of a routine evaluation programme and was not officially connected to the ongoing conflict. It travelled thousands of miles before reaching its target area near the Marshall Islands in the west-central Pacific Ocean.
The Minuteman III is a key part of the US nuclear defence system. It has a range of about 6,000 miles and can travel faster than 15,000 miles per hour, allowing it to hit targets on other continents within minutes.
The US Space Force said the launch was part of a long-running testing programme that has included more than 300 similar tests over several decades to ensure the reliability, accuracy and readiness of the country’s land-based nuclear deterrent.
A previous test of the Minuteman III was conducted in November 2025 amid renewed discussions in Washington about nuclear preparedness.
- With inputs from agencies
