Missile MGM-134 Midgetman

The MGM-134A Midgetman, designated as the Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (SICBM), originated from a mid-1980s United States Air Force requirement for a mobile nuclear delivery system. Development was initiated to mitigate the vulnerability of fixed silos to submarine-launched ballistic missiles and to counter Soviet road-mobile and rail-mobile ICBM developments. System definition studies began in 1984, followed by the authorization of full-scale development in 1986. The first flight test took place in 1989, during which the prototype was destroyed after 70 seconds of flight. The first successful test flight was conducted on April 18, 1991.

The missile is a three-stage, solid-fueled system. It utilizes a cold launch mechanism, employing gas pressure to eject the missile from its launch canister before rocket motor ignition. Guidance is provided through inertial and GPS systems, with a circular error probable of 90 meters. Warhead configurations included the W87-1 in a Mark 21 re-entry vehicle with a 475 kt yield or the W61 earth-penetrating warhead with a 340 kt yield.

The system was designed for operation by the United States using the Hard Mobile Launcher (HML), an eight-wheel drive vehicle. The HML provided radiation hardening and featured a trailer-mounted plow to dig the launcher into the earth for protection against nuclear blast effects. The operational doctrine focused on rapid relocation following the detection of an enemy strike to maintain a second-strike capability. The MGM-134A reached prototype status but did not enter active service or see combat. The program was cancelled in January 1992 following the end of the Cold War.