The U.S. launched a Minuteman III missile in a warning to Vladimir Putin as part of routine military testing as tensions threaten to explode in Eastern Europe

The U.S. Air Force demonstrated the nation's nuclear readiness by launching an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California early Wednesday morning.

The Air Force must continue maintaining Minuteman III nuclear missiles longer than expected, with the Sentinel successor requiring a major restructuring.