CALIFORNIA – A team from the Air Force and Space Force worked together to test-launch an unarmed Minuteman III missile, early February 19, at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. 

At 1 a.m. Pacific Time the military launched the missile to an undisclosed location. 

The missile didn’t carry a live warhead. Instead, it had a test device that gathered data during the flight to check how well the missile system works. 

“Today’s Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,” said Air Force acting secretary Gary Ashworth. 

The Minuteman III is a type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) used for long-range missile operations. 

Ashworth goes on to say that the test launch also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission.

‘Not a response to current world events’

According to the military, over 300 similar tests have been conducted in the past. 

“This particular test is part of the Nation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a credible deterrent and is not a response to current world events,” said a statement in the news release. 

Air Force Col. Dustin Harmon said they used this test to gather and study important data to check how well the missile system is working.

“The data we collect and analyze is crucial for maintaining Minuteman III while we pave the way for Sentinel,” said Harmon.

Sentinel is the next-generation ICBM system Northrop Grumman is developing to replace the aging Minuteman III missile system as part of the U.S. nuclear deterrence program.

RELATED: SpaceX launches ‘53 Starlink satellites’ from California