An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., on Sept. 23. The test flight traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, according to an Air Force release. Airmen from the 576th Flight Test Squadron at Vandenberg and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D., helped execute the test launch, which helps the Air Force gauge accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapons system and evaluate the security of the US’ nuclear deterrent capability. Such tests also benefit the broader Defense Department community, as well as the Department of Energy, and US Strategic Command, as they continue to evaluate force development, states the release.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.