American LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile, intended to replace the Cold War-era LGM-30G Minuteman III, is expected to achieve Initial Operating Capability in the early 2030s the U.S. Air Force hopes. Revision of the procurement plan for this ICBM program should conclude this year.
This marks yet another delay and schedule slippage. Initial Operating Capability was initially planned for 2029, subsequently postponed to 2030, and now even later, Defense News emphasizes.
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Despite all problems with the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear ICBM project, the U.S. Department of Defense decided to continue the program due to its exceptional importance for national security, but simultaneously ordered the Air Force to conduct restructuring and control costs.
The project is expected to reach Milestone B this year, meaning transition to the development and production phase. Overall, it is noted that over the past year to year and a half, significant progress has been achieved on the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear ICBM project, which is currently at the stage of transforming procurement strategy.
The Milestone B phase also involves conducting an independent cost estimate. According to Pentagon expectations, subject to procurement process revision, the total Sentinel ICBM project cost may reach $140.9 billion.
This remains very expensive, though less than current figures. We should recall that back in 2023, the U.S. acknowledged that costs for the new LGM-35A Sentinel missile were becoming unaffordable even for them from an initial approximately $80 billion, costs first grew to $117 billion, then last year to as much as $160 billion, which prompted partial project suspension.
Last year it also became known that for the Sentinel ICBM project, instead of modernizing launch silos, the U.S. wants to build new ones in most cases for the new missile, which obviously may also negatively affect overall program costs.
Problems implementing the new nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile project became the impetus for extending the service life of the currently deployed nuclear ICBM. The U.S. decided that Minuteman III will serve another 25 years.
Previously, Defense Express reported that the U.S. is ready to engage in a nuclear arms race following expiration of the New START treaty with russia.
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