US EditionUS Air Force Sees Early 2030s Rollout for Revamped Sentinel Nuclear Missile
The Sentinel program's restructuring addresses an 81% cost increase, aiming for an initial operational capability in the early 2030s, with new missile silos planned across U.S. bases.
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Air Force said the Sentinel restructuring will finish by the end of 2026 and the LGM-35A Sentinel will reach initial capability in the early 2030s.
- After a Nunn‑McCurdy breach, the LGM-35A Sentinel program faced cost growth to about $160 billion due to unforeseen complications with missile silos and launch control centers, prompting Pentagon restructuring.
- Gen. Dale White, direct reporting portfolio manager, said his consolidated authorities and recent progress in qualification tests, risk reduction, and prototyping support a faster Milestone B decision.
- With plans to modernize 450 missile silos and deploy 400 Sentinel missiles, officials say environmental reviews and Lockheed Martin’s W87-1 warhead and Mk21A reentry vehicle alignment are crucial.
- Under wider acquisition reforms, the Pentagon's CAPE will review costs before Milestone B, with White saying the timeline is earlier than recent estimates but still behind the original forecast.
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Hanford Sentinel
union-bulletin.comAir Force says new ICBM plan will be done by end of year
The U.S. Air Force said it intends to complete by the end of the year a restructuring plan for the new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system from Northrop Grumman Corp., after the projected $141 billion program was plagued by skyrocketing…
Sentinel rebaseline expected by end of year
The Air Force expects to finish rebaselining the Sentinel program by the end of the year, the service announced today, more than two years after the projected cost growth for the nuclear missile system broke financial thresholds. The LGM-35A intercontinental ballistic missile program -- which includes the missiles and surrounding infrastructure -- will aim to secure its new milestone B decision by the end of the year and deliver initial operatio…
Sentinel ICBM Restructure on Track for Completion by End of 2026 with Initial Capability Targeted for Early 2030s
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force announced on February 17 that the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program restructure remains on track for completion by the end of the year, with Milestone B certification targeted for the same period and initial operational capability planned for the early 2030s.ShareMore Reports On Space/NuclearThe announcement from Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs directly supports the 2026 Nationa…
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