19 Facts About LGM-30 Minuteman

LGM-30 Minuteman is an American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile in service with the Air Force Global Strike Command.

Development of the LGM-30 Minuteman began in the mid-1950s when basic research indicated that a solid fuel rocket motor could stand ready to launch for long periods of time, in contrast to liquid-fueled rockets that required fueling before launch and so might be destroyed in a surprise attack.

However, the development of the United States Navy UGM-27 Polaris, which addressed the same role, allowed the Air Force to modify the LGM-30 Minuteman, boosting its accuracy enough to attack hardened military targets, including Soviet missile silos.

The LGM-30 Minuteman II entered service in 1965 with a host of upgrades to improve its accuracy and survivability in the face of an anti-ballistic missile system the Soviets were known to be developing.

In 1970, the LGM-30 Minuteman III became the first deployed ICBM with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles : three smaller warheads that improved the missile's ability to strike targets defended by ABMs.

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LGM-30 Minuteman was aware that new computerized assembly lines would allow continual production, and that similar equipment would allow a small team to oversee operations for dozens or hundreds of missiles.

LGM-30 Minuteman was designed from the outset to be launched in minutes.

The LGM-30 Minuteman was initially deployed with a circular error probable of about 1.

From that point, LGM-30 Minuteman became the US's primary deterrent weapon, until its performance was matched by the Navy's Trident missile of the 1980s.

LGM-30A Minuteman I was first test-fired on 1 February 1961 at Cape Canaveral, and entered into the Strategic Air Command's arsenal in 1962.

LGM-30 Minuteman I's length varied based on which variation one was to look at.

At its introduction into service in 1962, LGM-30 Minuteman I was fitted with the W59 warhead with a yield of 1 Mt.

LGM-30F Minuteman II was an improved version of the Minuteman I missile.

Development on the LGM-30 Minuteman II began in 1962 as the LGM-30 Minuteman I entered the Strategic Air Command's nuclear force.

The LGM-30 Minuteman II integrated circuits were diode–transistor logic and diode logic made by Texas Instruments.

Performance improvements realized in LGM-30 Minuteman III include increased flexibility in reentry vehicle and penetration aids deployment, increased survivability after a nuclear attack, and increased payload capacity.

LGM-30 Minuteman III remains fitted with a single warhead due to the warhead limitations in New START.

Mobile LGM-30 Minuteman was a program for rail-based ICBMs to help increase survivability and for which the USAF released details on 12 October 1959.

Each LGM-30 Minuteman wing is assisted logistically by a nearby Missile Support Base .