After Exiting Arms Control Treaty, U.S. Tests New Ground-Based Cruise Missile

On Sunday, after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty on Aug. 2, the U.S. tested a new ground-based cruise missile that can range over 300 miles.

The Pentagon stated that the missile, which was launched from San Nicolas Island, California at 2:30 p.m., “exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately impacted its target after more than 500 kilometers of flight. Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense’s development of future intermediate-range capabilities.” Lt. Col Robert Carver, a Pentagon spokesman added, “The launcher used in Sunday’s test is a MK 41; however, the system tested is not the same as the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System currently operating in Romania and under construction in Poland. Aegis Ashore is purely defensive. It is not capable of firing a Tomahawk missile. Aegis Ashore is not configured to fire offensive weapons of any type.”