The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the restructuring of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with initial operational capability targeted for the early 2030s, the service stated.
Announced on 17 February 2026, the update outlines progress under a transformed acquisition strategy aligned with the 2026 National Defense Strategy. Programme officials said they are working toward achieving a Milestone B decision by the end of this year.
To accelerate delivery of major weapons programmes, the Department of the Air Force established a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Critical Major Weapon Systems in August 2025. The role centralises oversight of programmes including Sentinel, Minuteman III, F-47 and B-21 under a single authority intended to reduce decision latency and streamline coordination across acquisition, infrastructure and operational transition.
Gen. Dale White, director for Critical Major Weapon Systems, said: “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.” He added: “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.”
Sentinel represents a full replacement of the Minuteman III system, including the missile, launch systems and command-and-control infrastructure, forming a key element of the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad.
Over the past year, the programme has completed several technical milestones. The Air Force assembled its first complete three-stage ground test missile for pathfinder activities ahead of flight testing. It also completed qualification testing of the Stage-1 and Stage-2 solid rocket motors, and concluded a critical design review for the Sentinel Launch Support System. White said: “The Sentinel team did the hard work to demonstrate readiness to advance key decisions, and they brought forward the data to support it.” He added: “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 has taken the first Minuteman III silo offline as part of a phased transition plan, with Site Activation Task Force detachments established at F.E. Warren, Malmstrom, Minot and Vandenberg to manage deactivation and construction activities. Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said: “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 restructured approach includes building new silos rather than refurbishing legacy structures, which the Air Force said reduces risk and cost uncertainty. An incremental flight-test strategy described as “crawl, walk, run” is also intended to validate technologies earlier and support integration. In the coming months, work will include breaking ground on a prototype launch silo in Utah, validating construction methods at F.E. Warren, and continuing development of new Wing Command Centers and test facilities at Vandenberg. The first missile pad launch is planned for 2027.
In an ideal world the stupidity of owning and deploying nuclear weapons would be recognised and nuclear powers would be working to eliminate them as a clear threat to humanity.
Those of us who grew up during the cold war will recall the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) signed on 5 August 1963 after 499 atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted. Rising public concern surrounding the ever increasing megatonnage and resulting nuclear fallout from these tests put pressure on governments to restrict testing to underground facilities. Now the world has an epidemic of cancer. One wonders why?
Developing, deploying and upgrading nuclear weapons and delivery/targeting systems is ruinously expensive. Britain’s conventional forces have been cut and cut again to pay for Dreadnaught. Our Vanguard boats are ageing fast and take forever to refit, resulting in very long patrols. We do not have enough serviceable Astute SSN to ride shotgun for them
There are a number of primate alpha males in America, Russia, China, Israel, France, Britain (Iran?) who wish to retain the ability to rattle nuclear missiles at each other, usually over territorial disputes. The various treaties limiting the number of nuclear weapons have expired. These need to be renegotiated ASAP
We are not chimps fighting over food resources in the Africa jungle, tho looking at Putin, Xi and Trump one could be forgiven for mistaking the error
I doubt that the current rise in cancer diagnoses (not the same as cases) is related directly to atomic testing. There are much better explanations. For example:
– An improvement in the ability of medical professionals to diagnose cancer (so more people are diagnosed, and the rate increases)
– A worsening in air quality, especially in major cities
– A misunderstanding of the damage that is caused by UV light, thus increasing skin cancer rates
– A worsening in the quality of foodstuffs, and an abundance of microplastics in the food web
I could list many others, but you get the picture.