- The U.S. Air Force confirmed the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile program restructuring will be completed in 2026 with initial operational capability planned for the early 2030s.
- The program includes new acquisition oversight, ongoing testing milestones, and phased replacement of Minuteman III infrastructure to modernize the land-based nuclear deterrent.
The United States Air Force has announced a revised acquisition plan for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, confirming that a major restructuring effort will be completed by the end of 2026, with initial operational capability targeted for the early 2030s. The update was released by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office as part of efforts aligned with the 2026 National Defense Strategy.
According to the U.S. Air Force, program officials are executing a transformed acquisition strategy intended to accelerate modernization of the nation’s land-based nuclear deterrent while preparing for a Milestone B decision before the end of this year. The Sentinel program is designed to replace the aging Minuteman III system and modernize missile infrastructure, launch facilities, and command-and-control architecture.
To support the effort, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth established the Department of War Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Critical Major Weapon Systems in August of last year. The structure consolidates oversight of major programs, including Sentinel, Minuteman III, F-47, and B-21, under a single authority aimed at reducing decision delays across acquisition, infrastructure, and operational transition.
“The DRPM has the direct authority to make decisions, informed by integrated inputs across the enterprise and in alignment with the mission priorities set by the Secretary of War and the Secretary for the Air Force,” said Gen. Dale White, director of Critical Major Weapon Systems. “That construct allows us to resolve tradeoffs quickly and move with the speed required to deliver credible deterrence — while preserving the discipline this mission demands.”
Under the updated framework, U.S. Strategic Command retains responsibility for strategic deterrence operations, while Air Force Global Strike Command leads operational transition and readiness activities. The Department of the Air Force continues to manage acquisition and infrastructure delivery, now synchronized through a unified decision authority.
Officials said a detailed review determined the program remains on track to complete restructuring during calendar year 2026. The assessment also confirmed the early 2030s as the firm target for delivering initial capability.
Technical work has continued during the restructuring phase. The Air Force assembled the first complete three-stage ground test missile last fall, enabling transportation and emplacement testing ahead of flight trials. The program also completed a full-scale qualification test of Sentinel’s Stage-2 solid rocket motor in July 2025, following earlier Stage-1 testing and developmental evaluations.
In September, the program finalized a critical design review for the Sentinel Launch Support System, which will support both testing and operational launches throughout the missile’s service life.
“The Sentinel team did the hard work to demonstrate readiness to advance key decisions, and they brought forward the data to support it,” White said. “The restructured Sentinel program is the product of a deliberate, data-driven process and embodies our commitment to transforming acquisition.”
Operational transition efforts are also underway. Air Force Global Strike Command recently took the first Minuteman III silo offline as part of the phased transition to Sentinel. Site Activation Task Force detachments are operating at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to coordinate deactivation, construction, and system fielding.
“Our Global Strike Airmen operate the land-based ICBM force foundational to our nation’s defense, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. “The activation of these SATAF detachments and turnover of the first Minuteman III silo is a clear signal: we are making real, tangible progress in accelerating the Sentinel program and fielding significantly improved long-range strike capabilities.”
The restructuring also includes decisions intended to reduce risk and cost volatility. Rather than refurbishing decades-old silos, the Air Force plans to construct new launch facilities designed for modern safety and infrastructure requirements. The program will follow a phased “crawl, walk, run” flight-testing approach, allowing earlier validation of key technologies before full integration.
Construction milestones are already scheduled. Groundbreaking for a prototype launch silo at Northrop Grumman’s Promontory, Utah, facility is planned for February, while additional infrastructure prototyping will begin this summer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Permanent wing command centers and test facilities are also under construction to support future flight operations, including a first missile pad launch planned for 2027.
“A modern, reliable ICBM force complicates an adversary’s decision-making and provides the President with credible options — the very cornerstone of strategic deterrence,” said U.S. Navy Adm. Richard Correll, commander of U.S. Strategic Command. “The deliberate progress being made on Sentinel ensures, that for decades to come, there will be no doubt in the minds of our adversaries about the credibility and readiness of our nation’s nuclear deterrent. That is the ultimate deliverable.”
The Sentinel program represents a once-in-a-generation modernization of the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. Its progress carries direct implications for U.S. strategic stability, ensuring continuity of deterrence as legacy systems age and adversaries expand missile capabilities.