by Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
The United States Air Force, alongside Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne, recently conducted a test of the third-stage rocket motor for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. This evaluation took place within the secure confines of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tennessee. This follows earlier tests of the first and second-stage rocket motors in March 2023 and January 2024.
The component tested is the final segment of the Sentinel’s three-part propulsion system, which is crucial for the missile’s operation. Specifics about the test’s outcome were not disclosed by the Air Force.
Major General John Newberry, commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center and the service’s program executive officer for strategic systems, stated, “This test is part of our ongoing efforts to refine the design of the Sentinel missile. It’s a step forward in updating our country’s strategic nuclear defense capabilities.”
The Sentinel missile is set to replace the older LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM, a cornerstone of America’s nuclear defense since the Cold War era. Currently, there are approximately 400 Minuteman III missiles housed in underground silos across several states including Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska.
In February, Northrop Grumman shared that it had successfully tested key parts of the missile at its Utah facility, gathering important data on the missile’s structural behavior during flight. Additionally, the company conducted a successful test in California to ensure the protective shroud of the missile would detach without impacting the payload.
Warrior Discusses Sentinel With Northrop Grumman Developer
The Sentinel program’s costs have risen, triggering a budgetary review process known as a Nunn-McCurdy breach. Air Force leaders attribute most of the cost increase to the complex command and launch segment, which includes acquiring land, constructing over 400 launch sites, establishing 7,500 miles of utility pathways, and installing extensive fiber-optic networks.
Despite these cost increases, the Air Force has indicated that the missile itself is not experiencing as significant cost growth as other parts of the program.
Originally scheduled for initial operational capability in 2029, the Sentinel program is now expected to be delayed by approximately two years.
However, the Air Force is committed to the program, with leadership stating the replacement of the Minuteman III is a critical priority. They are prepared to reallocate funds from other areas of the budget to support the new ICBMs. The Pentagon is currently assessing the Sentinel program to determine potential restructuring strategies to reduce costs and realign the program’s timeline.
OLAWALE ABAIRE is a researcher, writer and analyst who has written over 75 nonfiction books, He has master’s degree from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria. He also works as a web content writer with the International Lean Six Sigma Institute, UK
