Air Force Test Fires Third-Stage Rocket Motor for New Sentinel ICBM

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