The Minuteman III was the world's first MIRV'ed ICBM. A MIRV (multiple independent re-entry vehicles) permits each missile to carry multiple warheads, and direct each one at a separate target. The "L" in LGM is the Department of Defense designation for silo-launched; "G" means surface attack; and "M" stands for guided missile.
Features of Minuteman III:
• The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental-range, silo-based, solid propellant ballistic missile system.
• It is equipped with multiple warheads to further increase the number of targets that can be effectively attacked.
• The Minuteman III missile has a maximum range of 13,000 km (8078 miles) and carries a payload of three Reentry Vehicles (RVs).
• It is an effective response system with an extremely fast launch time, a nearly 100 percent reliability and backup airborne launch controllers to ensure a counterstrike.
Product Life Cycle:
The first Minuteman III flight took place on 16 August 1968. The first operational missile was emplaced in its silo on 17 April 1970 at Minot AFB, with the first squadron becoming operational on 29 December 1970. The current Minuteman force consists of 450 Minuteman III missiles in missile silos around F.E.Warren AFB, Wyoming, Malmstrom AFB, Montana and Minot AFB, North Dakota. The Air Force planned to keep the missile in service until 2020, but it may be upgraded to stay in service until 2030. The primary contractor behind the development of the Minuteman III was Boeing Aerospace Company.
Dimensions and Performance:
Length: 59.9 feet (18 meters)
Weight: 79,432 pounds (32,158 kilograms)
Diameter: 5.5 feet (1.67 meters)
Range: 6,000-plus miles (5,218 nautical miles)
Speed: Approximately 15,000 mph (Mach 23 or 24,000 kph) at burnout
Accuracy: 120 m CEP
Components:
Propulsion : 3-stages solid-fueled rocket motor
Engine: 1st stage Thiokol M-55e solid fuel motor, 2nd stage Aerojet General solid fuel motor and 3rd stage Thiokol 73-AJ-1 solid fuel motor
Payload: 12xMK-3 RV(MIRV)
Warhead: Nuclear W62 170 kT, W78 335 to 350 kT, W87 300 to 475 kT
Guidance : Inertial guidance system
Features of Minuteman III:
• The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental-range, silo-based, solid propellant ballistic missile system.
• It is equipped with multiple warheads to further increase the number of targets that can be effectively attacked.
• The Minuteman III missile has a maximum range of 13,000 km (8078 miles) and carries a payload of three Reentry Vehicles (RVs).
• It is an effective response system with an extremely fast launch time, a nearly 100 percent reliability and backup airborne launch controllers to ensure a counterstrike.
Product Life Cycle:
The first Minuteman III flight took place on 16 August 1968. The first operational missile was emplaced in its silo on 17 April 1970 at Minot AFB, with the first squadron becoming operational on 29 December 1970. The current Minuteman force consists of 450 Minuteman III missiles in missile silos around F.E.Warren AFB, Wyoming, Malmstrom AFB, Montana and Minot AFB, North Dakota. The Air Force planned to keep the missile in service until 2020, but it may be upgraded to stay in service until 2030. The primary contractor behind the development of the Minuteman III was Boeing Aerospace Company.
Dimensions and Performance:
Length: 59.9 feet (18 meters)
Weight: 79,432 pounds (32,158 kilograms)
Diameter: 5.5 feet (1.67 meters)
Range: 6,000-plus miles (5,218 nautical miles)
Speed: Approximately 15,000 mph (Mach 23 or 24,000 kph) at burnout
Accuracy: 120 m CEP
Components:
Propulsion : 3-stages solid-fueled rocket motor
Engine: 1st stage Thiokol M-55e solid fuel motor, 2nd stage Aerojet General solid fuel motor and 3rd stage Thiokol 73-AJ-1 solid fuel motor
Payload: 12xMK-3 RV(MIRV)
Warhead: Nuclear W62 170 kT, W78 335 to 350 kT, W87 300 to 475 kT
Guidance : Inertial guidance system
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