The silo is probably not yet operational. The first four silos at Jilantai were covered by garage-like shelters. But in early , dome-like shelters were erected over an additional 10 possible missile silos.
These domes, or inflatable shelters, are identical or similar to the shelters over the vast majority of suspected silo sites at Hami, Yumi, and Ordos. In late-October, the dome shelters at Jilantai began to come down. A satellite image of one of these Visible features include what appear to be a silo hatch, small auxiliary buildings, and ground markings from possible buried command and control cables or power lines see image below.
The other sites at Jilantai have the same features and dimensions. The silo features are also clearly visible at Yumen, which began construction earlier than Hami and Ordos. So far, the shelters have been removed from at least 29 suspected silos at Yumen. The structures are very similar: an apparent silo hatch on an elevated dirt mound, with small auxiliary structures, a wide-turn access road presumably for use by missile transport and maintenance trucks.
One of the apparent silo sites under construction at Yumen is shown below. Over the next several months, the remaining surface features will be completed. Operation of large missile silo fields requires extensive support infrastructure. This includes main base headquarters, technical support bases, missile and warhead support facilities, command and control infrastructure, electrical power supply, and roads.
Many of the facilities under construction at the three suspected missile silo fields at Hami, Yumen and Ordos, as well as at the training site near Jilantai, appear intended to support such functions. One of the most unique facilities under construction is a large complex that includes what appear to be three large parallel tubes embedded in trenches and connected to buildings via smaller tubes. Underground tunnels connect the three tubes, which might eventually be covered with soil.
So far, this type of facility has been found at the Hami and Ordos missile silo fields see image below , but not yet at Yumen. Note: there is no evidence this is the case. Another unique facility so far seen only at Hami The tunnels are still under construction and show large amounts of excavation soil dumped nearby see image below. Again, there is no evidence this is the case and is speculation at this point. The base-tunnel complex appears to be connected to the main missile silo grid via an underground cable.
Sixty kilometers 37 miles to the west There are also many other structures under construction that may be technical service facilities and launch control centers. Especially at Hami, we see construction of long lines of what may be powerlines intended to provide electrical power to the sprawling facilities. Finally, a number of larger and smaller construction camps and soil extraction sites are visible at all the suspected missile fields.
Each map has a slider that allows the viewer to see how the construction of major facilities has progressed over time. These maps will be updated as construction continues.
To access the maps, use these links:. From the mids until the early s there were 1, Minuteman Silos and corresponding Launch Control Facilities for command and control. There was a multiplicity of reasons that Minuteman's were sited in the Great Plains region.
The following are considered the three major ones: 1 Distance - The shortest distance to the Soviet Union - the United States main opponent during the Cold War - was over the North Pole. The areas in black denote deactivated missile wings, the areas in red denote the active missile wings. Explore This Park. It's perfect for a quick but meaningful afternoon outing. The tour is about an hour long and the guides are very friendly and knowledgeable.
I plan to return with other friends and family members. What a great piece of history! The only remaining Titan II transcontinental ballistic missile. Nuclear warhead has been deactivated, otherwise it looks exactly like it did before. Very informative and interactive tour by Steve and Marsha. Many thanks to the museum staff for keeping the place operational. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Well worth the drive from Phoenix. Duval Mine Rd. Green Valley, Arizona Plan Your Visit. Buy Tickets Online. Following the construction of the missile field, the Minuteman Missile Area Landowners Association remained inactive until the early s when the Air Force began the deactivation process of the Minuteman II ICBMs and a new generation of property owners worked together to disseminate information and provide support.
The Delta silo and Delta launch control facility are preserved as a part of Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and may be viewed in their historic state. The remainder of these sites are privately owned. Explore This Park. Pets Allowed. Activity Fee.
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