--- title: "Check Out These Rare Infrared Images Of A Minuteman III ICBM Blasting Off" description: "The Air Force released the images a day after it formally hired Northrop Grumman to build its next ICBMs." date: "2020-09-09" modified: "2020-11-27" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/36298/check-out-these-remarkable-infrared-images-of-minuteman-iii-ibcm-blasting-off" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Americas" - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "ICBMs" - "Indo-Pacific" - "LGM-30 Minuteman III" - "News & Features" - "Nuclear" - "Nuclear Ballistic Missiles" - "U.S. Air Force" - "U.S. Homeland" tags: - "Arms Control" - "China" - "GBSD" - "ICBM" - "LGM-30G" - "Minuteman III" - "MIRV" - "Must Read Features" - "New START" - "Northrop Grumman" - "nuclear deterrence" - "nuclear weapons" - "russia" - "YLGM-182A" --- # Check Out These Rare Infrared Images Of A Minuteman III ICBM Blasting Off ![]() *www.twz.com* The U.S. Air Force has released rare shots of an [LGM-30G Minuteman III]() intercontinental ballistic missile shortly after launch during a recent test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. This comes as the Air Force is celebrating the 50th anniversary of these missiles entering service this year and just a day after formally awarding Northrop Grumman a contract to continue development and eventually build the Minuteman III's replacement, known as the [Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent](). Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), which oversees America's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force, which is presently made up entirely of Minuteman IIIs, released the pictures [on its Facebook page]() on Sept. 9, 2020. A camera team at Vandenberg captured the infrared images during [a scheduled test launch]() of an LGM-30G from that base on Sept. 2. "We just had to share these amazing shots of our #MMIII operational test launch on Sept. 2 taken by the optics camera team at Vandenberg Air Force Base!" AFGSC's [brief Facebook post]() read. "It's not often you see shots like these!" ![message-editor%2F1599668445008-1.jpg]() **USAF** ![message-editor%2F1599668525252-2.jpg]() **USAF** "Not often" is something of an understatement. Official images of this quality showing one of these missiles in flight are *very* rare. Typically, after Minuteman III tests, the Air Force only releases pictures and video of the missile leaving the silo and streaking across the sky. Since these launches are almost exclusively conducted at night, the imagery generally does not provide much in the way of detail. However, the Air Force had already released video footage of the Sept. 2 test showing more of the initial flight than usual. It's not immediately clear why there has been this apparent push to provide more visuals surrounding this particular launch. https://youtube.com/embed/rcAkrT4_SNc The Sept. 2 test involved the launch of a missile with a single reentry vehicle. The reentry vehicle came down approximately 4,200 miles away from Vandenberg at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. "These test launches verify the accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapon system, providing valuable data to ensure a continued safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent," the Air Force said of this particular launch. This followed a more uncommon test launch in August involving a Minuteman III in a Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) configuration with three reentry vehicles, as it was originally designed to carry. All operational LGM-30Gs are presently equipped with a single reentry vehicle only as a result of various arms control agreements, which you can read more about in this [past *War Zone* piece](). 2020 does mark 50 years in service for the LGM-30G, the first examples of which were operationally deployed in 1970. The annivarsary has put an additional focus on these missiles. The Minuteman III was the first MIRVed ICBM to enter service anywhere in the world. https://youtube.com/embed/_JEQGZDdtio In addition, on Sept. 8, 2020, the Air Force declared Northrop Grumman to be the formal winner of the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) competition, awarding it a deal [worth more than $13 billion](). This company had been the only remaining contestant after Boeing dropped out of the running last year. Boeing's decision, along with the factors [that led up to it](), had prompted criticism, including [from members of Congress]() who warned that having just one bidder could lead to increased costs. The total cost of replacing the Minuteman IIIs with new GBSD missiles, which have been tentatively designated YLGM-182As, is estimated to [be around $100 billion](), including various ancillary spending, such as infrastructure improvements. ![message-editor%2F1599682756043-gbsd.jpg]() *An artist's conception of Northrop Grumman's GBSD ICBM., *Northrop Grumman** This is just one part of a broader and potentially budget-busting nuclear modernization push across the U.S. military, which you can read about in more detail in this [previous *War Zone* piece](). The ICBM leg of America's nuclear deterrent triad, also known as the "nuclear sponge" since it is meant to "soak up" incoming nuclear strikes, forcing an opponent to commit multiple warheads to each silo and [hardened command bunker](), is already, at best, a controversial part of the U.S. defense budget, as *The War Zone* [has explored in the past](). All of this also comes as the U.S. government continues to negotiate [with its Russian counterparts]() about the future of the [New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty]() (New START), which is set to expire next year if the two sides can't agree on terms to extend it. The United States is looking to bring China, which is expanding its [nuclear and ballistic missile]() capabilities, into any future agreement, as well. ![message-editor%2F1599683022011-mm3.jpg]() *An LGM-30G Minuteman III missile in its silo., *USAF** The end of New START would open the door for dramatic changes in America's nuclear arsenal, broadly. For the ICBM force, this might lead to re-MIRVing of the Minuteman IIIs or a change to the planned configuration of the GBSD. The latter missiles are slated to begin replacing the existing LGM-30Gs starting in 2029. Whatever the case, the Air Force has clearly been particularly keen recently to highlight the existing Minuteman IIIs, including with rarely seen imagery of the missile in flight. *Contact the author: Joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()