Editing LGM-30 Minuteman (section)

=== Minuteman II (LGM-30F) ===
:''See also [[W56|W56 warhead]]''
[[File:Minuteman guidance computer (1).jpg|thumb|The guidance system of the Minuteman II was much smaller due to the use of integrated circuits. The inertial platform is in the top bay.]]

The LGM-30F Minuteman II was an improved version of the Minuteman I missile. Its first test launch took place on September 24, 1964. Development on the Minuteman II began in 1962 as the Minuteman I entered the Strategic Air Command's nuclear force. Minuteman II production and deployment began in 1965 and completed in 1967. It had an increased range, greater [[throw weight]] and guidance system with better azimuthal coverage, providing military planners with better accuracy and a wider range of targets. Some missiles also carried penetration aids, allowing the higher probability of kill against [[A-35 anti-ballistic missile system|Moscow's anti-ballistic missile system]]. The payload consisted of a single Mk-11C reentry vehicle containing a [[W56]] nuclear warhead with a yield of 1.2 megatons of TNT (5 [[petajoule|PJ]]).

==== Specifications ====
The Minuteman II had a length of {{convert|57|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on|sp=us}}, weighed roughly {{convert|73000|lb|kg|abbr=on|sp=us}}, had an operational range of {{convert|10200|km|abbr=on|sp=us|order=flip}}{{sfn|Sandia Weapon Review: Nuclear Weapon Characteristics Handbook|p=65}} with an accuracy of about {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on|sp=us}}.<ref name="1996_dtic" /><ref name="2009_Polmar" />

The major new features provided by Minuteman II were:

* An improved first-stage motor to increase reliability.
* A novel, single, fixed [[nozzle]] with liquid injection thrust vector control on a larger second-stage motor to increase missile range. Additional motor improvements to increase reliability.
* An improved guidance system (the [[D-37C|D-37 flight computer]]), incorporating [[microchips]] and miniaturized discrete electronic parts. Minuteman II was the first program to make a major commitment to these new devices. Their use made possible multiple target selection, greater accuracy and reliability, a reduction in the overall size and weight of the guidance system, and an increase in the survivability of the guidance system in a nuclear environment. The guidance system contained 2,000 microchips made by [[Texas Instruments]].
* A penetration aids system to camouflage the warhead during its reentry into an enemy environment. In addition, the Mk-11C reentry vehicle incorporated stealth features to reduce its radar signature and make it more difficult to distinguish from decoys. The Mk-11C was no longer made of titanium for this and other reasons.<ref name="2014_Isaacson" />
* A larger warhead in the reentry vehicle to increase kill probability.

System modernization was concentrated on [[launch facility|launch facilities]] and [[command and control]] facilities. This provided decreased reaction time and increased survivability when under nuclear attack. Final changes to the system were performed to increase compatibility with the expected [[LGM-118A Peacekeeper]]. These newer missiles were later deployed into modified Minuteman silos.

The Minuteman II program was the first mass-produced system to use a computer constructed from integrated circuits (the [[Autonetics]] [[D-37C]]). The Minuteman II integrated circuits were [[diode–transistor logic]] and [[diode logic]] made by [[Texas Instruments]]. The other major customer of early integrated circuits was the [[Apollo Guidance Computer]], which had similar weight and ruggedness constraints. The Apollo integrated circuits were [[resistor–transistor logic]] made by [[Fairchild Semiconductor]]. The Minuteman II flight computer continued to use rotating magnetic disks for primary storage. The Minuteman II included [[diode]]s by [[Microsemi Corporation]].<ref name="1964_microsemi" />