| |
|
Country: USA
Type: ICBM
Introduction: 1970 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The LGM-30 Minuteman is an American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The Minuteman III missile entered service in 1970, with weapon systems upgrades included during the production run from 1970 to 1978 to increase accuracy and payload capacity. As of 2007, the United States Air Force (USAF) plans are to maintain the ICBM operational until 2040.
The LGM-30G Minuteman III program started in 1966, and included several improvements that distinguish it from the LGM-30F Minuteman-II. Most modifications related to the final stage and re-entry system. The re-entry system developed for the LGM-30G was capable of deploying penetration aids (chaff) and up to three re-entry vehicles with and overall increase in payload delivery as well. The introduction of multiple re-entry vehicles on a single ICBM was a significant advance in the development of strategic nuclear missiles that substantially increased their threat.
|
|
| General Information |
| Developed by |
USA |
| Deployed by |
USA |
| Development Year |
1966 |
| Deployment Year |
1970 |
| Retirement Year |
2020 |
| Platform |
In hardened silos |
| Number deployed |
550(F.E.Warren AFB(150), Malmstrom AFB(150), Minot AFB(50), Grand Forks AFB(50))(as of 1997) |
| Contractor |
Boeing Co., Military A/C & Missile System Div. |
| Dimensions and Performance |
|
Length |
18.2m |
|
Body Diameter |
1.68m(1st stage) , 1.32 m(2nd stage), 1.32 m(3rd stage) |
|
Launch Weight |
35,400kg |
|
Range |
13,000km (Mk-12 RV), 11,300 km (Mk-12a RV) |
|
Speed |
6.7 km/sec |
|
Altitude |
1,130 km |
|
Accuracy |
280m (Mk-12 RV), 120m (Mk-12a RV) CEP |
| Components |
|
Propulsion |
3-stage solid propellant |
|
Engine |
Thiokol TU-122(M-55) solid fuel motor(1st-Stage), Aerojet General SR19-AJ-1 solid fuel motor (2nd-Stage), Aerojet and Thiokol SR73-AJ-1 solid fuel motor (3rd-Stage), Rocketdyne RS-14 restartable liquid fuel motor (PostBoost Stage) |
|
Payload |
3 Mk 12A RVs + penetration aids (includes chaff and decoys) |
|
Warhead |
3 W-78s (335-350kT) ; Under START-II (if it is implemented) the current three warhead MIRV loading will be changed to a single 300 Kt W-78/Mk-21a each (taken from the to-be-retired Peachekeeper force) |
|
Guidance |
Inertial (INS-20 : all-inertial, gimbaled, improved NS-20 guidance system system manufactured by Autonetics Division, Rockwell International.) |
|
