US Tests Nuclear Missile: How Powerful Is Minuteman-III, Could America Really Destroy The World 150 Times? | World News

Washington: The U.S. Air Force fired an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on November 5. The missile traveled 7,500 kilometers and accurately hit its target near the Marshall Islands. Officials described it as a routine reliability test at the behest of President Trump. Washington plans to introduce new missiles by 2030.

The US Air Force’s Global Strike Command confirmed that the test was launched from California. The missile arrived at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Range near the Marshall Islands. The exercise was part of planned checks aimed at testing accuracy, speed and system readiness. Pentagon officials emphasized that there was no nuclear warhead in the incident.

Minuteman III: Old But Mighty

Minuteman III is America’s oldest ICBM, in service since the 1970s. It is launched from land and can hit targets at distances of up to 13,000 kilometers. This test was unarmed, although it could carry nuclear warheads.

The United States currently has approximately 400 of these missiles, which form a critical part of its defense against countries such as Russia and China. The missile got its name because it could be launched within a minute.

It is planned to replace Minuteman III with new systems by 2030, but such tests will continue until then.

Why Test Now?

Trump referenced nuclear tests by Russia, China and Pakistan. He warned that the United States could not be left behind and instructed the Pentagon to continue testing.

The Ministry of Energy announced that explosive nuclear tests will not be carried out. The launch complies with US policy under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which Washington has yet to fully ratify.

Analysts said Trump’s comments were reminiscent of the Cold War-era nuclear rivalry between America and the Soviet Union.

Minuteman III: Symbol of American Nuclear Power

Minuteman III is a land-based ICBM capable of hitting targets up to 13,000 kilometers away. Although the test missile is unarmed, it can carry nuclear warheads. It is the backbone of America’s nuclear deterrent on the ground. Its launches came from Vandenberg and traveled across the Pacific, hitting dummy targets at the Ronald Reagan Test Range.

Routine testing ensures readiness and accuracy. Similar tests were conducted in May 2025.

While most U.S. nuclear weapons (about 70%) are launched from submarines, land-based tests like this are rare but vital.

The World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Bombs

[ThebombdroppedonHiroshimain1945killedmorethan70000peoplebyproducingonly15kilotonsofTrinitrotoluene(TNT).

Nowadays, countries have much more powerful weapons. The B83 gravity bomb, the most powerful active nuclear weapon in the United States, has a power of 1.2 megatons (80 times that of the Hiroshima bomb).

A B83 crashing into a city can destroy everything within a 10-15 km radius. The temperature at the time of the explosion can reach 100,000°C, higher than that of the sun, igniting fires many kilometers away and causing huge radiation losses. Immediate deaths could reach 500,000-1,000,000, followed by global fallout and potential nuclear winter.

The Tsar Bomba, which the Soviet Union tested in 1961, remains the largest bomb ever, at 50 megatons (3,333 times the size of Hiroshima), but it was never intended for active deployment. The explosion shattered windows 100 kilometers away.

Nuclear Arsenal of Other Countries

Nine countries currently have nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. Russia has the most warheads (about 6,000), but America has the most powerful bombs.

• RS-28 Sarmat (Russia): 5-10 megatons, can destroy a continent.
• DF-5 (China): 3-5 megatons, with a destruction radius of 50 km.
• FNS (France): 1 megaton, submarine launched, devastating coastal areas.
• Trident II (UK/US): 0.475 megatons, submerged launch, kills marine life.
• Agni-5 (India): 0.05-0.2 megatons, destroys area within 5 km radius.
• Shaheen-3 (Pakistan): 0.05 megatons, limited range, local destruction.
• Hwasong-15 (North Korea): 0.1-0.25 megatons, extreme but untested risk.

The Real Threat of Nuclear Weapons

The explosion could destroy anything within miles. The heat burns people instantly. Radiation causes long-term illnesses.

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) can black out entire cities. Nuclear winter could cause global famine. Even small bombs devastate cities; The big ones can destroy countries.

Could the USA Really Destroy the World 150 Times?

According to experts, yes. President Trump claimed in an interview with CBS on November 3, 2025 that the United States has enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world 150 times over.

Washington has approximately 3,700 active warheads, of which 1,400 are deployed. Just 100-400 of them could trigger nuclear winter and threaten civilization. The rest represents “overconsumption,” a remnant of Cold War-era stockpiles.

If used, roughly half the global population could die from immediate effects, starvation and extreme cold.

Minuteman III, B83, and Tsar Bomba remind us that nuclear weapons remain humanity’s greatest threat. Their power can level cities in minutes or destroy entire nations.

The United States tests serve as both an indicator of readiness and a warning to the world.