US Air Force Prepares Nuclear Bases for Deployment of New LGM-35 Sentinel Nuclear Missile.

According to information published by the 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs on May 30, 2025, the US Air Force officially launched preparations at its nuclear installations to accommodate the upcoming LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The activation of a new specialized unit, the Sentinel Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) Detachment 12, at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota marks a pivotal moment in the effort to replace the aging Minuteman III, which has served as the land-based pillar of the US nuclear triad since 1970. This initiative is part of a broader strategic modernization plan focusing on strengthening the ground-based leg of the nuclear deterrent force.
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Artist rendering of Sentinel missile (Picture Source: Northrop Grumman)

The Sentinel program, originally designated as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), is designed to deliver a next-generation ICBM featuring advanced security technologies, cyber resilience, and modular architecture. Sentinel will be deployed in a single-warhead configuration, with initial fielding scheduled to begin in 2029. Until the new W87-1 warhead under development by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) becomes available, the Sentinel will be armed with legacy W87-0 warheads. The NNSA is also scaling up its capability to produce 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030 to meet program requirements, having already qualified the first war reserve pit for the W87-1 in October 2024.

The program will replace 400 deployed Minuteman III missiles stationed across the missile fields of F.E. Warren (Wyoming), Malmstrom (Montana), and Minot (North Dakota). Supporting infrastructure development and operational activities will also take place at Hill AFB, the Utah Test and Training Range, Camp Guernsey (Wyoming), and Camp Navajo (Arizona). In total, the Sentinel program involves the modernization or reconstruction of more than 600 facilities, including 450 hardened silos and underground launch control centers across approximately 40,000 square miles. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC), which oversees the full lifecycle of the Air Force’s nuclear weapons systems, is leading these efforts.

The newly activated Detachment 12 at Minot AFB, under the command of Lt. Col. Nicholas Conover, is tasked with overseeing civil engineering works, infrastructure upgrades, and coordination between military stakeholders and industry partners. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, emphasized the strategic importance of Minot in the US nuclear deterrence posture and stressed the need for a disciplined transition from the Minuteman III to the Sentinel system. He reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to ensuring the readiness and resilience of its ICBM force in response to growing nuclear threats from adversaries such as China and Russia.

Despite its strategic significance, the Sentinel program has encountered cost overruns and delays. In January 2024, the Department of Defense reported a 37% cost increase per missile, from an initial estimate of $118 million to $162 million (in 2020 dollars), triggering a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach. This required a comprehensive review and restructuring of the program, including the rescission of Milestone B approval. The Air Force has cited ground infrastructure complexity, underground communications upgrades, cybersecurity measures, and supply chain pressures as key contributors to the escalating costs.

Several members of Congress have raised concerns about the viability of transitioning from the Minuteman III to Sentinel on schedule, especially given delayed testing milestones and funding constraints. The first Sentinel flight test, originally planned for 2023, has been postponed to 2026, affecting the development timeline for the W87-1 warhead and the Mk21A reentry vehicle being developed by Lockheed Martin. While some lawmakers advocate for reconsidering a life extension of the Minuteman III, the Air Force maintains that further extending the aging system is neither feasible nor cost-effective due to increasing reliability issues.

To ensure a consistent nuclear deterrent posture during the transition, Congress has mandated that 400 ICBMs remain on alert at all times. It has also instructed the Air Force to devise a plan to accelerate warhead uploads in case of a temporary reduction in deployed missiles. The 2023 report from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States suggested exploring multi-warhead configurations or mobile deployment options to address evolving strategic threats.

The activation of Sentinel-related infrastructure and task forces represents a decisive step toward the modernization of America’s land-based nuclear arsenal. The LGM-35A Sentinel marks a technological and strategic leap designed to ensure long-term deterrence in an increasingly complex global security environment. Despite the challenges, the program remains central to the United States’ defense strategy and its commitment to maintaining a credible and modernized nuclear triad.