US has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile testing

The US has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile during operational testing in California.

An Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) unarmed Minuteman III missile was fired during the test at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The Minuteman missile is a product of 60 years of enhancements – having originally been conceived in the 1950s.

Weighing 36,030kg, the weapon has a range of more than 6,000 miles and travels at roughly 15,000mph.