US Air Force has decided on the timing of the first flight of the new ICBM, designed to replace the outdated Minuteman III
The newest American intercontinental ballistic missile, developed as part of the US Air Force's GBSD (Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent) program, will make its maiden flight in 2023. This is reported by Airforce Magazine.
According to the publication, the US Air Force has scheduled the first test launch of the new ICBM at the end of 2023; it will take off on its maiden flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Currently, the rocket is only flying in simulation.
The American company Northrop Grumman is working on the creation of a new intercontinental ballistic missile under a US Air Force contract. In the fall of last year, NG defended the project of a new ICBM and received the go-ahead for further work on the project.
Details of the development of the new ICBM are not disclosed, it is only known that under the terms of the contract, the new ICBM will have to use the Mk.12A and Mk.21 warheads from the Minuteman-III ICBMs, which can house one or more W78 nuclear charges (350 kilotons) and W87 (300 kilotons) respectively. Also, the new rocket should be versatile. The US Air Force does not exclude that it will be able to create a ground-based mobile installation following the example of the Russian Yars PGRK or something completely different, but also mobile.
The GBSD (Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent) program assumes the gradual replacement of all 2027 Minuteman-III ground-based ICBMs from 450. Until 2036, the US Air Force plans to deploy 400 new ICBMs, after which the program will reach the level of full operational readiness. The new ICBMs should be in service with the United States at least until 2075.
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