LGM-30 Minuteman

Edward Hall and solid fuels Minuteman owes its existence largely to Air Force Colonel Edward N. Hall, who in 1956 was given charge of the solid-fuel-propulsion division of General Bernard Schriever's Western Development Division, which was originally created to lead development of the SM-65 Atlas and HGM-25A Titan I ICBMs. Solid fuels were already commonly used in short-range rockets. Hall's superiors were interested in short- and medium-range missiles with solids, especially for use in Europe where the fast reaction time was an advantage for weapons that might be attacked by Soviet aircraft. But Hall was convinced that they could be used for a true ICBM with a range. but through the late 1950s, it was a serious concern. The Air Force responded by beginning research into survivable strategic missiles, starting the WS-199 program. Initially, this focused on air-launched ballistic missiles, which would be carried aboard aircraft flying far from the Soviet Union, and thus impossible to attack by either ICBM, because they were moving, or long-range interceptor aircraft, because they were too far away. In the shorter term, looking to rapidly increase the number of missiles in its force, Minuteman was given crash development status starting in September 1958. Advanced surveying of the potential silo sites had already begun in late 1957. It's not clear exactly why the W59 was replaced by the W56 after deployment but issues with "... one-point safety" and "performance under aged conditions" were cited in a 1987 congressional report regarding the warhead. Chuck Hansen alleged that all weapons sharing the "Tsetse" nuclear primary design including the W59 suffered from a critical one-point safety issue and suffered premature tritium aging issues that needed to be corrected after entry into service. Minuteman II (LGM-30F) :See also W56 warhead The LGM-30F Minuteman II was an improved version of the Minuteman I missile. Its first test launch took place on September 24, 1964. Development on the Minuteman II began in 1962 as the Minuteman I entered the Strategic Air Command's nuclear force. Minuteman II production and deployment began in 1965 and completed in 1967. It had an increased range, greater throw weight and guidance system with better azimuthal coverage, providing military planners with better accuracy and a wider range of targets. Some missiles also carried penetration aids, allowing the higher probability of kill against Moscow's anti-ballistic missile system. The payload consisted of a single Mk-11C reentry vehicle containing a W56 nuclear warhead with a yield of 1.2 megatons of TNT (5 PJ). Specifications The Minuteman II had a length of , weighed roughly , had an operational range of with an accuracy of about . • It was the first The safety features installed on the Minuteman III for each test launch allow the flight controllers to terminate the flight at any time if the systems indicate that its course may take it unsafely over inhabited areas. Since these flights are for test purposes only, even terminated flights can send back valuable information to correct a potential problem with the system. The test of an unarmed Minuteman III failed on November 1, 2023, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The U.S. Air Force said it had blown up the missile over the Pacific Ocean after an anomaly was detected following its launch. The 576th Flight Test Squadron is responsible for planning, preparing, conducting, and assessing all ICBM ground and flight tests. ==Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS)==

information film reel. The Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) is an integral part of the Minuteman ICBM command and control system and provides a survivable launch capability for the Minuteman ICBM force if ground-based launch control centers (LCCs) are destroyed. When the Minuteman ICBM was first placed on alert, the Soviet Union did not have the number of weapons, accuracy, nor significant nuclear yield to completely destroy the Minuteman ICBM force during an attack. However, starting in the mid-1960s, the Soviets began to gain parity with the US and potentially had the capability to target and successfully attack the Minuteman force with an increased number of ICBMs that had greater yields and accuracy than were previously available. Studying the problem, SAC realized that in order to prevent the U.S. from launching all 1,000 Minuteman ICBMs, the Soviets did not have to target all 1,000 Minuteman missile silos. The Soviets needed to launch only a disarming decapitation strike against the 100 Minuteman LCCs – the command and control sites – in order to prevent the launch of all Minuteman ICBMs. Even though the Minuteman ICBMs would have been left unscathed in their missile silos following an LCC decapitation strike, the Minuteman missiles could not be launched without a command and control capability. In other words, the Soviets needed only 100 warheads to eliminate command and control of the Minuteman ICBMs. Even if the Soviets chose to expend two to three warheads per LCC for assured damage expectancy, the Soviets would have had to expend only up to 300 warheads to disable the Minuteman ICBM force – far less than the total number of Minuteman silos. The Soviets could have then used the remaining warheads to strike other targets they chose. Faced with only a few Minuteman LCC targets, the Soviets could have concluded that the odds of being successful in a Minuteman LCC decapitation strike were higher with less risk than it would have been having to face the almost insurmountable task of successfully attacking and destroying 1000 Minuteman silos and 100 Minuteman LCCs to ensure Minuteman was disabled. This theory motivated SAC to design a survivable means to launch Minuteman, even if all the ground-based command and control sites were destroyed. After thorough testing and modification of EC-135 command post aircraft, the ALCS demonstrated its capability on 17 April 1967 by launching an ERCS configured Minuteman II out of Vandenberg AFB, CA. Afterward, ALCS achieved Initial Operational Capability on 31 May 1967. From that point on, airborne missileers stood alert with ALCS-capable EC-135 aircraft for several decades. All Minuteman ICBM Launch Facilities were modified and built to have the capability to receive commands from ALCS. With ALCS standing alert around-the-clock, the Soviets could no longer successfully launch a Minuteman LCC decapitation strike. Even if the Soviets attempted to do so, EC-135s equipped with the ALCS could fly overhead and launch the remaining Minuteman ICBMs in retaliation. With the ALCS on alert, the Soviet war planning was complicated by forcing them to target not only the 100 LCCs, but also the 1,000 silos with more than one warhead in order to guarantee destruction. This would have required upwards of 3,000 warheads to complete such an attack. The odds of being successful in such an attack on the Minuteman ICBM force would have been extremely low. The ALCS is operated by airborne missileers from the Air Force Global Strike Command's (AFGSC) 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (STOS) and United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). The weapon system is also located on board the United States Navy's E-6B Mercury. The ALCS crews are integrated into the battle staff of the USSTRATCOM "Looking Glass" Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) and are on alert around-the-clock. Although the Minuteman ICBM force has been reduced since the end of the Cold War, the ALCS continues to act as a force multiplier by ensuring that some enemy cannot launch a successful Minuteman LCC decapitation strike. == Other roles ==

Mobile Minuteman Mobile Minuteman was a program for rail-based ICBMs to help increase survivability and for which the USAF released details on 12 October 1959. Minuteman Mobility Test Trains were first exercised from 20 June to 27 August 1960 at Hill Air Force Base, and the 4062nd Strategic Missile Wing (Mobile) was organized 1 December 1960. It was planned to include three missile train squadrons, each with 10 trains carrying 3 missiles per train. During the Kennedy/McNamara force reductions, the Department of Defense announced "that it has abandoned the plan for a mobile Minuteman ICBM. The concept called for 600 to be placed in service450 in silos and 150 on special trains, each train carrying 5 missiles." Kennedy announced on 18 March 1961 that the 3 squadrons were to be replaced with "fixed-base squadrons", and Strategic Air Command discontinued the 4062nd Strategic Missile Wing on 20 February 1962. – 24 October 1974 Air-Launched ICBM Air-Launched ICBM was a STRAT-X proposal in which SAMSO (Space & Missile Systems Organization) successfully conducted an Air Mobile Feasibility Test that airdropped a Minuteman 1b from a C-5A Galaxy aircraft from over the Pacific Ocean. The missile fired at , and the 10-second engine burn carried the missile to 20,000 feet again before it dropped into the ocean. Operational deployment was discarded due to engineering and security difficulties, and the capability was a negotiating point in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Emergency Rocket Communications System (ERCS) From 1963 through 1991, the National Command Authority communication relay system included the Emergency Rocket Communication System (ERCS). Specially designed rockets called BLUE SCOUT carried radio-transmitting payloads high above the continental United States, to relay messages to units within line-of-sight. In the event of a nuclear attack, ERCS payloads would relay pre-programmed messages giving the "go-order" to SAC units. BLUE SCOUT launch sites were located at Wisner, West Point and Tekamah, Nebraska. These locations were vital for ERCS effectiveness due to their centralized position in the US, within range of all missile complexes. In 1968, ERCS configurations were placed on the top of modified Minuteman II ICBMs (LGM-30Fs) under the control of the 510th Strategic Missile Squadron located at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The Minuteman ERCS may have been assigned the designation LEM-70A. Satellite launching role The U.S. Air Force has considered using some decommissioned Minuteman missiles in a satellite launching role. These missiles would be stored in silos, for launch upon short notice. The payload would be variable and would have the ability to be replaced quickly. This would allow a surge capability in times of emergency. During the 1980s, surplus Minuteman missiles were used to power the Conestoga rocket produced by Space Services Inc. of America. It was the first privately funded rocket, but saw only three flights and was discontinued due to a lack of business. More recently, converted Minuteman missiles have been used to power the Minotaur line of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences (nowadays Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems). Ground and air launch targets L-3 Communications is currently using SR-19 SRBs, Minuteman II Second Stage Solid Rocket Boosters, as delivery vehicles for a range of different re-entry vehicles as targets for the THAAD and ASIP interceptor missile programs as well as radar testing. == Operators ==

The United States Air Force has been the only operator of the Minuteman ICBM weapons system, currently with three operational wings and one test squadron operating the LGM-30G. The active inventory in FY 2025 is 400 missiles and 45 Missile Alert Facilities (MAF). Operational units The basic tactical unit of a Minuteman wing is the squadron, consisting of five flights. Each flight consists of ten unmanned launch facilities (LFs) which are remotely controlled by a manned launch control center (LCC). A two-officer crew is on duty in the LCC, typically for 24 hours. The five flights are interconnected and status from any LF may be monitored by any of the five LCCs. Each LF is located at least three nautical miles (5.6 km) from any LCC. Control does not extend outside the squadron (thus the 319th Missile Squadron's five LCCs cannot control the 320th Missile Squadron's 50 LFs even though they are part of the same Missile Wing). Each Minuteman wing is assisted logistically by a nearby Missile Support Base (MSB). If the ground-based LCCs are destroyed or incapacitated, the Minuteman ICBMs can be launched by airborne missileers utilizing the Airborne Launch Control System. Active • 90th Missile Wing – "Mighty Ninety" • at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, (1 July 1963 – present) • Units: • 319th Missile Squadron – "Screaming Eagles" • 320th Missile Squadron – "G.N.I." • 321st Missile Squadron – "Greentails" • 150 missiles, 15 MAF – Launch sites • LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1964–74 • LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1973–present • 91st Missile Wing – "Roughriders" • at Minot AFB, North Dakota (25 June 1968 – present) • Units: • 740th Missile Squadron – "Vulgar Vultures" • 741st Missile Squadron – "Gravelhaulers" • 742d Missile Squadron – "Wolf Pack" • 150 Missiles, 15 MAF – Launch sites • LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1968–72 • LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972–present • 341st Missile Wing • at Malmstrom AFB, Montana (15 July 1961 – present) • Units: • 10th Missile Squadron – "First Aces" • 12th Missile Squadron – "Red Dawgs" • 490th Missile Squadron – "Farsiders" • 150 Missiles, 15 MAF – Launch sites • LGM-30A Minuteman I, 1962–69 • LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1967–94 • LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1975–present • 625th Strategic Operations Squadron • at Offutt AFB, Nebraska Historical • 44th Strategic Missile (later Missile) Wing "Black Hills Bandits" : Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (24 November 1961 – 5 July 1994) : LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963–73 : LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1971–94 : 66th Missile Squadron : 67th Missile Squadron : 68th Missile Squadron : 44th Missile Wing LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Launch Sites : Inactivated 1994 when Minuteman II phased out of inventory. All retired between 3 December 1991 and April 1994, with destruction of silos and alert facilities finishing in 1996. • 90th Missile Wing : 400th Missile Squadron (Converted to LGM-118A Peacekeeper in 1987. Inactivated 2005. Peacekeepers retired.) • 321st Strategic Missile (later Missile) Wing (later Group) : Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota (14 August 1964 – 30 September 1998) : LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965–73 : LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972–98 : 446th Missile Squadron : 447th Missile Squadron : 448th Missile Squadron : 321st Missile Wing LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Launch Sites : Inactivated by BRAC 1995; missiles reassigned to 341st SMW, however in 1995 it was decided to retire the Grand Forks missiles; the last missile was pulled from its silo in June 1998. Destruction of silos and control facilities began in October 1999; the last silo (H-22) was imploded 24 August 2001 (the last US silo destroyed per the 1991 START-I treaty). • 341st Missile Wing : 564th Missile Squadron (Inactivated 2008, WS-133B system retired, missiles recycled into inventory) • 351st Strategic Missile (later Missile) Wing : Whiteman AFB, Missouri (1 February 1963 – 31 July 1995) : LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963–65 : LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965–95 : 508th Missile Squadron : 509th Missile Squadron : 510th Missile Squadron : 351st Missile Wing LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Launch Sites : The 510th SMS operated Emergency Rocket Communication System (ERCS) missiles in addition to Minuteman II ICBMs. The 351st SMW was inactivated under START-I. The first silo was imploded on 8 December 1993 and the last on 15 December 1997. • 455th Strategic Missile Wing : Minot AFB, North Dakota (28 June 1962 – 25 June 1968) : LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1962–68 : Replaced by the 91st Strategic Missile Wing in June 1968 • Historical Airborne Launch Control System Units : 68th Strategic Missile Squadron (Ellsworth AFB, SD: 1967–1970) : 91st Strategic Missile Wing (Minot AFB, ND: 1967–1969) : 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (Ellsworth AFB, SD: 1970–1992) : Converted to the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron in 2007, where ALCS mission continues to this day Support • 532d Training Squadron – Vandenberg AFB, California (Missile Maintenance Training and Missile Initial Qualification Course) • 315th Weapons Squadron – Nellis AFB, Nevada (ICBM Weapons Instructor Course) • 526th ICBM Systems Wing – Hill Air Force Base, Utah • 576th Flight Test Squadron – Vandenberg Air Force Base, California – "Top Hand" • 625th Strategic Operations Squadron – Offutt AFB, Nebraska == Replacement ==

A request for proposal for development and maintenance of a Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) next-generation nuclear ICBM, was made by the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, ICBM Systems Directorate, GBSD Division on 29 July 2016. The GBSD would replace MMIII in the land-based portion of the US Nuclear Triad. The new missile to be phased in over a decade from the late 2020s are estimated over a fifty-year life cycle to cost around $86 billion. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman were competing for the contract. On 21 August 2017, the US Air Force awarded 3-year development contracts to Boeing and Northrop Grumman, for $349 million and $329 million, respectively. One of these companies will be selected to produce this ground-based nuclear ICBM in 2020. In 2027, the GBSD program is expected to enter service and remain active until 2075. On 14 December 2019, it was announced that Northrop Grumman had won the competition to build the future ICBM. Northrop won by default, as their bid was at the time the only bid left to be considered for the GBSD program (Boeing had dropped out of the bidding contest earlier in 2019). The US Air Force stated that it would "proceed with an aggressive and effective sole-source negotiation." == Surviving decommissioned sites ==

• Oscar One Alert Facility at Whiteman AFB • Delta One Alert Facility at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site • Delta Nine Silo at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site • Minuteman II missile Training Launch Facility at Ellsworth AFB • Oscar Zero Alert Facility at Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site • November 33 Silo (topside only) at Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site • Quebec-One Missile Alert Facility at Cheyenne, Wyoming (modified for Peacekeeper ICBM in 1986) == Preservation ==

The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota preserves a Launch Control Facility (D-01) and a launch facility (D-09) under the control of the National Park Service. The North Dakota State Historical Society maintains the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site, preserving a Missile Alert Facility, Launch Control Center and Launch Facility in the WS-133B "Deuce" configuration, near Cooperstown, North Dakota. == Comparable missiles ==

• RS-28 Sarmat • DF-5 • DF-31 • DF-41 • PGM-17 Thor • R-36 • RS-24 Yars • RT-2 • RT-2PM2 Topol-M • UR-100N • Agni-VI == See also ==