LGM-30 Minuteman chronology

This is a chronology of the LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, acquisition and operational.

Program chronology

 * 1956
 * Von Neumann Committee approved Ballistic Missile feasibility program
 * R&D programs and contracts authorized
 * 1957
 * ICBM improvements studies started
 * Minuteman configuration studies started
 * 1958
 * Minuteman R&D program authorized
 * 1959
 * First R&D firing from silo - inert second and third stage
 * 1960
 * First contract for operational wing facilities at Wing I
 * Missile production
 * 1961
 * First all-up missile launch from pad at Eastern Test Range
 * First missile launch from silo at Eastern Test Range
 * 1962
 * First missile launch from Western Test Range
 * Minuteman-I operational flight turnover at Wing I
 * 1963
 * First wing turnover at Wing I, Wing II turnover
 * Force Mod program approved
 * First motor static test firing to verify reliability
 * 1964
 * Wing III and Wing IV turnover
 * New features approved
 * Minuteman-II flight test
 * GIANT BOOST
 * 1965
 * Wing V turnover
 * Vulnerability improvements
 * Minuteman fully operational at Wing II, Wing III
 * 1966
 * Wing IV turnover
 * Minuteman-III approval
 * Aging surveillance program initiated
 * Minuteman-II operational at Wing VI
 * ERCS deployed
 * 1967
 * Squadron 20 turnover
 * Force Mod at Wing IV
 * 1968
 * Hard rock silo program started
 * First Minuteman-III R&D flight
 * 1969
 * Force Mod rate decrease
 * Force Mod at Wing I complete
 * Service Star testing began for RSs
 * 1970
 * First Minuteman-III at Wing III (Hotel Flight/H-02)
 * Upgrade silo and CDB programs started
 * First MOM test at Wing VI
 * 1971
 * Minuteman-III dust program started
 * Force Mod at Wing III completed
 * 1972
 * Minuteman-III deployed at Wing VI
 * First dust-hardened Minuteman-III deployed at Wing VI
 * Minuteman ordnance service life analysis program developed
 * Responsibility for service life testing transferred to Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC), Hill Air Force Base, Utah
 * 1973
 * Upgrade silo and CDB IOC at Wing V
 * Force Mod and upgrade silo completed at Wing II
 * Last MOM at Wing III
 * 1974
 * Full Force upgrade silo approved
 * MK12A and Pave Pepper programs started
 * SSAS was deployed for Minuteman II
 * 1975
 * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing V
 * Upgrade silo and CDB start at Wing III
 * Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman (SELM) program started
 * Minuteman bench test program concept developed by OO-ALC
 * Minuteman-III fully deployed
 * Minuteman program management responsibility transfer (PMRT)
 * 1976
 * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing III
 * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
 * Long range service life analysis performed for propulsion system
 * Hybrid explicit implemented for Minuteman III
 * Minuteman II MGS vibration test program initiated
 * New calibration schedule implemented to correct MGS startup transients
 * Minuteman II Stage 3 lot 16 motor igniters replaced
 * 1977
 * Minuteman III missile production terminated
 * Inertial performance data began to be collected for guidance system fault isolation
 * Began implementation of ILCS at Minuteman II wings
 * 1978
 * GIP implemented at Minuteman III
 * Thrust termination port investigation began
 * 1979
 * Minuteman II stage 2 motor remanufacturing program began to correct degraded liner/Minuteman III stage 3 degraded liner investigation initiated
 * USAF advisory board recommended that carbon-carbon nose tips be developed for MK12 RVs
 * 1980
 * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
 * Minuteman II accuracy/reliability investigation conducted
 * VRSA replacement design started
 * Diagnostic data package hardware delivered to provide re-entry/separation data for Minuteman II flights
 * 1981
 * MGS electronics investigation completed
 * Accuracy, Reliability, Supportability Improvement Program (ARSIP) program began
 * 1982
 * Minuteman III guidance upgrade program implemented
 * MK12A re-entry vehicle FOC
 * Special operational test program began - Minuteman II
 * Hardness critical items identified and procured
 * 1983
 * Minuteman-III MGS vibration test program initiated
 * Special operational test program complete - accuracy improvements verified
 * 1984
 * Minuteman Extended Survivable Power IOC
 * GUP implemented for Minuteman III
 * 1985
 * Rivet MILE (Minuteman Integrated Life Extension) program began
 * 1986
 * LGM-118A Peacekeeper deployment initiated
 * 1987
 * Integrated Nuclear Effects Assessment (INEA)
 * ARSIP implemented for Minuteman II
 * Piece-parts manufacturing for diminished manufacturing sources
 * Rivet MILE began Improved Minuteman Physical Security System (IMPSS) installation
 * 1988
 * Minuteman-III Stage 2 washout/Stage 3 replacement
 * Comprehensive reliability investigations conducted
 * Peacekeeper fully operational at Wing V
 * 1989
 * Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) program initiated
 * Rocket Motor Transporter replacement
 * Code Change Verifier replacement
 * Transporter-Erector replacement
 * 1990
 * 1991
 * Minuteman II removed from SIOP
 * 1992
 * Minuteman II deactivation initiated
 * MESP discontinued
 * Rivet MILE completes IMPSS installation
 * SRV Program initiated
 * Rivet ADD initiated
 * Missile Transporter replacement
 * Missile Transporter (PT III) replacement
 * 1993
 * GRP contract awarded
 * 1994
 * PRP initial contracts awarded
 * 1995
 * REACT consoles begin deployment
 * Minuteman-II deactivation complete
 * BRAC decision to close Wing VI by 1998
 * 1996
 * REACT deployment complete
 * 1998
 * Wing VI deactivation complete
 * Wing VI Minuteman IIIs moved to Wing I
 * AF awards ICBM Prime contract to TRW team for ICBM engineering
 * 1999
 * First NS-50 MGS deployed
 * Congress establishes the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
 * 2000
 * 2001
 * PRP deployment initiated
 * 2005
 * Peacekeeper deactivation complete
 * 2007-08
 * Deactivation and removal of 50 Minuteman III's at Malmstrom AFB, MT.