Overview
- Program leaders say the Sentinel restructure remains on track for a Milestone B decision by the end of 2026, with initial operational capability targeted for the early 2030s.
- Teams break ground this month on a prototype launch silo at Northrop Grumman’s Promontory, Utah site to validate the new design before construction in the missile fields.
- Recent technical progress includes assembly of the first complete three‑stage ground test missile last fall and a critical design review of the Launch Support System in September.
- Propulsion risk has been reduced through a series of tests, culminating in a full‑scale Stage‑2 motor qualification in July 2025 following Stage‑1 qualification in March 2025.
- Transition planning advances as AFGSC takes the first Minuteman III silo offline, SATAF detachments stand up at four bases, new silos are chosen over retrofits, and the first missile pad launch is planned for 2027.