US intercontinental missile self-destructs over the Pacific

A test shot of a US Minuteman III intercontinental missile ended with the destruction of the missile, according to the US Global Strike Command.

The United States conducted Tuesday a test intercontinental missile Minuteman III, which ended in failure, said Tuesday the press service of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

The launch of the Minuteman III missile
© AP PHOTO / U.S. AIR FORCE VIA AP
US tests Minuteman III ballistic missile (video)
The missile took off early July 31st from an underground silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The military sent the order of self-destruction to the missile at 04:42 (1:42 pm Paris time).
The command recorded anomalies during the flight of the missile, said the US Air Force without specifying the nature of the problems.

"An anomaly is an unexpected event that occurs during testing. Since anomalies can arise due to many factors ..., we must carefully analyze their reasons, "said AFGSC.

According to the military, the missile was approaching its target near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean as it self-destructed.

The Air Force announced that it had formed a task force to establish the cause of the firing failure.

"The command draws lessons from each launch," the press service concluded.