Air Force Test Fires Missile(ICBM) From CA Coast(Hits Targets 4,200 miles away)

[tekisui]

Source: AP

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Air Force says it has successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile from a California base, firing it to targets in the Pacific Ocean.

Lt. Raymond Geoffroy (JEFF-rey) said the ICBM was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 3:01 a.m. Monday.

He said it carried three unarmed re-entry vehicles that hit their targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, some 4,200 miles away.

The Air Force said the launch was an operational test to check the weapon system's reliability and accuracy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_re_us/us_missile_test

[MadHound]

1. Great, we're playing chicken with Teh Crazy

If anybody doesn't think that this was a warning to Kim Jong-Il, I've got some fine swamp, er, farmland in Florida.

[tekisui]

4. Yep. This, plus SK saying they are developing pre-emptive strike

capabilities.

[tekisui]

2. I think this was a warning shot to NK. It could almost reach them,

and the US actually hit its target.

(snip)

Also Monday, the North criticized the U.S. for positioning missile defense systems around Hawaii, calling the deployment part of a plot to attack the regime. The North said it would bolster its nuclear arsenal in retaliation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he ordered the deployment of a ground-based, mobile missile intercept system and radar system to Hawaii amid concerns the North may fire a long-range missile toward the islands, about 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers) away.

"Through the U.S. forces' clamorous movements, it has been brought to light that the U.S. attempt to launch a pre-emptive strike on our republic has become a brutal fact," the North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear

[Vinca]

3. Let's hope L'il Kim was paying attention.

[tekisui]

6. 26-year-old son Kim Jong Un, I think Kim Jong Il is exiting stage

right soon, or already has. It is scary that a 26 year old son of a madman will be in charge of a nuclear arsenal.

[Hannah Bell]

5. maybe it was a warning to china,

[Statistical]

7. Bad timing BUT

The US launches a Minuteman 3 ICBM every year to test that no defects have occurred (most are 40+ years old). We have a reverse of about 40 with non-operation warheads but otherwise identical to the "live" ICBM.

The difference w/ US & NK is that the target was a US military missile range and the test was conducted with the permission of the govt of the Marshall islands.

Last year we launched one 5250 miles on 5/28/2009 so this is rather "routine".

I wonder how much money we pay the Marshall island to be a target for our ICBMs. "No I swear it is a dud ICBM. Trust me."

[FLSurfer]

8. Fairly routine but not often covered by the press.

Having worked there in the late 80's, I can still recall the missile launches and how we would go sit in a concrete bunker on Roi Namur til the missile splashed down.
Nothing new here but the press coverage.

Edit to say I think we only pay them about $55-60 million per year in direct payments.

[Historic NY]

9. They would have been more impressed if it was missile vs missile..

[FarCenter]

10. Kwajalein Atoll is the usual target for routine firings

Sounds like an absolutely routine quality control check.

Kwajalein is also the place where anit-missile missiles are fired from, going back to the '70s.