Air Force Stacks Inert Sentinel ICBM Ahead of First Test in 2027
The four-month Pathfinder test verified the missile’s subsystems and logistics as the program moves toward a first flight test in 2027.
- On Monday, the Air Force and Northrop Grumman erected an inert LGM-35A Sentinel missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, creating the first full visual representation of the next-generation intercontinental ballistic weapon system.
- Known as Pathfinder, the four-month test process verified the viability of all missile stages and critical subsystems while technicians rigorously tested mechanical operations, including mobile crane use and transportation procedures.
- The 719th Test Squadron used this stacking event to complete the first "flight test design review" of the Sentinel, confirming the design meets requirements for "performance, safety, and mission assurance."
- Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink confirmed the 2027 timeframe for the first test launch remains on track, demonstrating momentum toward replacing the aging Minuteman III ICBM force.
- Gen. Dale White, director of critical major weapons systems for the Department of Defense, said the program is nearing completion of its restructuring following a Nunn-McCurdy Act breach, with officials aiming to field initial capability by the early 2030s.
11 Articles
11 Articles
U.S. Air Force stacks its next nuclear missile for first time
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have fully assembled an inert version of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the company announced Sept. 14, 2026. The vertical assembly is a step toward flight testing the missile in 2027. Engineers stacked all of the missile’s stages, propulsion elements, and […]
Air Force Stacks Inert Sentinel ICBM Ahead of First Test in 2027
The Air Force has erected an inert version of its LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., the service announced Sept. 14. Officials also confirmed at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference that they still expect to finish restructuring the long-troubled Sentinel program by the end of the year and conduct a first test launch in 2027. The post Air Force Stacks Inert Sentinel ICBM Ahead of First Test…
USAF, Northrop detail Sentinel ICBM ‘vertical stacking’ demo
The Air Force and Northrop Grumman Monday said they have completed a full assembly of the LGM-35A Sentinel future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its “operational orientation,” setting the stage for initial flight testing in 2027. The “vertical stacking” demonstration at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), Calif. was completed in parallel with a critical design […]
Northrop Grumman (NOC) Stock: Sentinel Missile Hits Key Assembly Milestone
TLDR Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force completed vertical assembly of a fully integrated inert Sentinel ICBM at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The four-month exercise, called Pathfinder, tested transport, handling, stacking, and integration of all missile components. The first Critical Flight...
Key takeaways: Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force have reached a crucial integration moment for the Sentinel ICBM program by completing the vertical assembly of a non-functional LGM-35A missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This exercise, named ‘Pathfinder’, served as an extensive ground rehearsal. It is intended to ensure that components originating from various locations in the […]
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