American Nukes

by Darin Boville

Minuteman

The modern ICBM
Weapon Specifications

Note that the relationship between explosive power and destruction is not linear—a weapon’s destructive effects grow far more slowly than its explosive power.

Explosive Power

Up to 475 kilotons (III)

Hiroshima Equivalent Factor

32x

Dimensions

59.9 ft. x 5 ft. 6 inches (III)

Weight

79,432 lbs. (III)

Range

8745 miles (III)

Year(s)

1962 (Version 1)–Present (Version III)

Purpose

The backbone of the ICBM deterrent

Videos

These curated videos provide additional context for this weapon — showing test footage, deployment scenes, technical explanations, interviews, or other historical material, allowing viewers to go deeper into the weapon’s design, use, and place in nuclear history.

Further Reading