Pentagon shoots off new mid-range ballistic missile prototype

Warrior Maven Video Above: Pentagon Pursues New Plan to Destroy Hypersonic Weapons

By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

(Washington, D.C.) The Pentagon fired-off a new prototype conventionally-configured, ground-launched ballistic missile as part of a broader effort to increase medium-range attack options and further fortify deterrence efforts.

The missile launch, according to a Pentagon statement, took place earlier this month at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

“The test missile exited its static launch stand and terminated in the open ocean after more than 500 kilometers of flight. Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense’s development of future intermediate-range capabilities,” a DoD statement said.

A missile launch at this range is significant in a number of key respects. First, as specified by the Pentagon statement, the missile firing represents a deliberate effort to bolster U.S. intermediate range attack weapons, a rapid development which has been underway following the collapse of the U.S.-Russian INF Treaty.

The INF Treaty, previously violated by Russia according to U.S. reports, collapsed earlier this year, prompting the U.S. to develop a new sphere of medium range weapons; the treaty previously restricted medium-range conventional weapons as a way to better reassure both Russia and NATO that attacks on the European continent would not be likely, or even possible in some respects. A medium-range 500-to-600km cruise missile does allow Russia to hold a large number of major European cities at risk of conventional missile attack. In like fashion, these missiles can hold key Russian targets at risk from Europe.