Air Force conducts second intercontinental ballistic missile test in less than a week

The U.S. Air Force conducted Thursday its second intercontinental ballistic missile test in less than a week to gauge its readiness for a potential attack and show rivals its defenses are up to snuff.

“We and the Russians and the Chinese routinely do test shots to prove that the operational missiles that we have are reliable. And that is a signal … that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country if necessary,” Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told Reuters from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Pentagon officials were on hand to test its Minuteman Three missile on Thursday ensure the American military maintains a “safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent” amid heightening tensions worldwide, a local CBS News affiliate reported.

Thursday’s test involved rocketing an unarmed Minuteman III missile at upwards of 15,000 mph. It landed about 90 minutes later as expected near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands of the South Pacific, Reuters reported.

Mr. Work told Reuters that the Air Force has conducted at least 15 IBM tests since January 2011.

“Anyone who is a nuclear power is sure to be watching these tests and has to be at least aware that the United States nuclear deterrent is as strong as it has ever been,” Mr. Work said.

The scheduled exercise occurred only five days after the Pentagon’s last demonstration.

“The flight test program demonstrates one part of the operational capability of the ICBM weapon system,” Col. Craig Ramsey, the commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron at Vandenberg, said after Saturday’s launch. “When coupled with the other facets of our test program, we get a complete picture of the weapon system’s reliability. But perhaps most importantly, this visible message of national security serves to assure our partners and dissuade potential aggressors.”