The US military is set to carry out the test launch of a hypersonic nuclear missile on November 5 – just hours after polls close.
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is due to be fired between 11:01pm and 5:01am PT from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Despite reports of concerns on the part of some Americans that the missile is being launched around the Presidential Election, military officials assured worried parties that “test is routine and was scheduled years in advance.”
They insisted that the test was to demonstrate the “readiness of nuclear US forces” and provide “confidence in the nation’s nuclear deterrence”.
The awesome speed of the US’ missile will be on display as it thunders through the sky above the Pacific Ocean after the polls shut.
It will travel 4,200 miles from its US base to Kwajalein Atoll, a tiny island in the North Pacific. Despite the distance – which is about the same as the distance between London and New Delhi in India – the journey will take just 22 minutes.
The weapon can reach speeds of over 15,000mph, meaning it could strike any target worldwide in just 30 minutes from launch.
The test comes as fears continue to ratchet up about a third global conflict. The war in Ukraine and the Middle East has drawn the focus of much of the world, with Western and anti-Western actors taking direct or indirect roles in one or both of the conflicts.
Then there is concern about Taiwan. China regularly flexes its muscles around the island, off its mainland, while the US and its allies keep a curious eye on goings-on.
Taiwan considers itself an independent state, and although it is not recognised by the major powers, many expect that the US would intervene if China invaded or otherwise attacked.
