Gbsd Missile Program, F. Sentinel Program Overview Sentinel is the replacement for the Minuteman III – land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program which was first deployed in 1962 and is nearing end-of-life CUI But critics of GBSD argue the modernization plans are escalatory, excessive for a deterrent capability and wasteful. Interest in industry capacity to support. Eric Green, AFGSC A5F Program Integration Office Chief, plays a key role in the communication between senior leaders dealing with GBSD. The reasons for the United States new intercontinental ballistic missile—the ground-based strategic deterrent, or GBSD—are historical, political, and to a significant extent economic. 8 awarded Northrop Grumman a $13. Since that time the Minuteman III has seen a number of Life Extension programs implemented, to assure that The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is a future American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM) currently in the early stage This is the first story in a series about Sentinel, the Air Force’s nuclear missile modernization project. 3 billion contract to develop the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile. BMT Recruit Dormitory 7, Inc 2 JBSA-Lackland TOTAL: TEXAS TOTAL: GBSD Organic Software Sustainment Center, Inc 3 GBSD Technology and Collaboration Center Hill TOTAL: UTAH TOTAL: GBSD Integrated Command Center GBSD Missile Handling Facility GBSD Land Acquisition, Phase 1 FE Warren TOTAL: WYOMING TOTAL: INSIDE THE US TOTAL: REQUEST 68,000 68,000 What GAO Found The Department of Defense (DOD) plans to replace or modernize existing triad platforms including submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and bomber aircraft, as well as many of the nuclear command, control, and communication systems that facilitate control of them (see below). nuclear triad is currently composed of 400 deployed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) based out of Malmstrom, Minot, and Warren Air Force bases in underground silos stretching across Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. As the missile moves toward production and deployment, issues for Congress include whether to authorize and appropriate funding for this program and, if so, to provide oversight as the program progresses and is implemented. As of 2025, the LGM-30G (Version 3) [note 1] is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States and represents the land leg of the U. Navy Strategic Weapons System programs. [ The Sentinel program (previously called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD) consists of a like-for-like replacement of all 400 Minuteman III missiles that are currently deployed across Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming, and will also include a full set of test-launch missiles, as well as upgrades to the launch Maintenance and security: The GBSD’s modular architecture will allow missile maintenance to be conducted without opening the launcher closure door––meaning that fewer security forces will need to be present during maintenance operations. The replacement program includes new missile systems, new command and control systems, ground systems, and the conversion of the MM III silos and Launch Control Centers. ARLINGTON, Va. The Pentagon’s continuation of the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) program, after it triggered the Nunn-McCurdy breach, marks a turning point in American defense The Air Force plans to replace the fielded Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with the next-generation Sentinel system currently in development. In September 2020 the US Air Force selected Northrop Grumman to develop the GBSD missile under a $13. What Is an ICBM? Sentinel Program Overview Sentinel is the replacement for the Minuteman III – land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program which was first deployed in 1962 and is nearing end-of-life CUI Learn all about the U. GBSD testing is expected to occur mainly at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, and at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California, with missile launches from VSFB over the Pacific Ocean. The U. The GBSD weapon system will be designed to be operationally capable through FY 2075. infrastructure from FE Warren to missile sites. 3 billion development contract. 8. The SD weapon system is being developed to eventually replace the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile pro The Pentagon’s new multibillion-dollar intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program has come under fire as a continual offender of overspending, but there has been little reaction on the issue from Congress. The LGM-30 Minuteman is an American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in service with the Air Force Global Strike Command. Developed under the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, the Sentinel is the land-based component of the U. When compared with a life-extended Minuteman III, the replacement system (the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, GBSD) would meet current and expected threats, maintain the industrial base, insert more reliable Feb 2, 2024 · The LGM-35A Sentinel, formerly called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) being developed by Northrop Grumman, in cooperation with Air Force Global Strike Command, for the US Air Force (USAF). Jun 15, 2025 · Comm. The best example is the Sentinel Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, a massive replacement of the U. The GBSD intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will modernize or replace the current Minuteman III ICBM’s systems for command and control, launch and flight. S Air Force and Boeing engineers completed the firs review of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, which validated program technical requirements prior to the design and development phase of the next intercontinental ballistic missile system. nuclear force structure. WARREN AFB GBSD - SENTINEL PRESENTATION MILCON PROGRAM & NON-TRADITIONAL MILCON Jake Wiegmann, PE, PMP GBSD Program Manager, Military Programs Branch - USACE Omaha District The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, GBSD, was created by the Air Force for the purpose of developing the next generation ICBM. Air Force photo by R. The Air Force expects GBSD to begin replacing MMIII in 2029. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo ming, Malmstrom AFB, Mont ana, and Minot AFB, N orth Dakota, will be home to the new system. The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to modernize its nuclear infrastructure to life extend Status of Minuteman III The U. Some Democratic lawmakers have opposed the program and sought to divert money The GBSD ballistic missile may enter service by 2025 with the aim to stay operational through 2075. The Sentinel acquisition program represents the modernization of the land-based leg of the U. The new strategic missile is expected to be fielded by 2029. Since that time the Minuteman III has seen a number of Life Extension programs implemented, to assure that The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD)—recently designated the LGM-35A Sentinel missile—is expected to replace the Minuteman III (MMIII) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in the U. Bechtel and Northrop Grumman are modernizing U. The LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system is designed to replace the Minuteman III, marking a significant step in modernizing the land-based leg of the U. 1 priority mission of the Department of Defense. the Air Force determined that it would replace MMIII with a new missile system. Minuteman III launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 9 February 2023. 10, 2023. The most recent life-extension program The GBSD program comprises two major segments: the Aerospace Vehicle Equipment (AVE) segment and the Command and Launch (C&L) segment. Scope and parameters still being refined. The Sentinel ICBM represents the modernization of the land-based leg of the U. strategic nuclear triad for the 21st century. The GBSD program’s objective is to deliver a low technical risk, affordable, total system replacement, starting in the late 2020s, to improve the ICBM’s capabilities and provide more efficient operations, maintenance, and security at lower lifecycle costs. Sentinel will be deployed in a single-warhead configuration, with initial fielding scheduled to begin in 2029. This next-generation system will provide enhanced security, advanced capabilities, and sustained deterrence for decades to come. ICBM launch infrastructure for the Sentinel program to maintain America’s nuclear deterrent. “I am a liaison with direct communications back to the GBSD Site Activation Task Force to communicate issues and concerns expressed by the 90th Missile Wing and to ensure 90 MW senior leaders are The Air Force expects GBSD to begin replacing MMIII in 2029. U. Boeing says it will withdraw from a massive Pentagon program to replace America’s ground-based nuclear missiles, citing concerns with how the Pentagon has handled the procurement. [2] It is slated to replace the ageing Minuteman III missiles, currently stationed in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and Colorado, from 2029 through 2075. The GBSD program manager said the missile is “months away” from first test flights, which are scheduled to commence from Vandenberg Air Force Base in late 2023. Note: The LGM-35A Sentinel was originally called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD, in the early stages of its development. Sources Sought: 12 May 2025 (W9128F25SM032). Several nuclear modernization programs are well underway, but the decision to replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a new system, called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), has catalyzed a debate over the role of nuclear weapons in U. The Sentinel weapon system addressed in this website was formerly known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). nuclear triad. Many people in the states where the new missile will be built and based see it as an economic lifeline. nuclear triad, along Existing missile bases, F. Nial Bradshaw). . Each ICBM carries one warhead — either the W87 or the […] The Pentagon is currently planning to replace its current arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with a brand-new missile force, known as the Sentinel (previously called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD); it was previously estimated to cost approximately $100 billion in acquisition fees and $264 billion throughout The Department of the Air Force awarded an Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program to Northrop Grumman on Sept. Air Force first deployed Minuteman ICBMs in the 1960s. The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is a future American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM) currently in the early stages of development. national security policy and the composition and costs of The GBSD program office operates out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Welcome to the Air Force’s Sentinel Deployment and Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal Project Environmental Permitting and Compliance information website. Construct a communication support building at each MAF location. S. Missile Defeat and Defense Funding Request Total and Select Systems [Source: Missile Defense Agency, FY 2026 Budget Justification Books, Operation and Maintenance, Procurement, and RDT&E] WASHINGTON — The Department of the Air Force on Sept. About Textron Systems The LGM-35A Sentinel, formerly called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) being developed by Northrop Grumman, in cooperation with Air Force Global Strike Command, for the US Air Force (USAF). John E. In January, the Air Force notified Congress that the Sentinel program exceeded its baseline cost projections, causing a critical breach under the federal Nunn-McCurdy Act, which occurs if the program or average unit procurement cost increases by The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent is the new program created to design and deploy a new ICBM, to replace the Minuteman III missile. Air Force Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs and U. Nuclear deterrence is the No. a $996 million contract to produce a reentry vehicle (RV) tailored for the Sentinel ICBM. Textron Systems will provide the company’s advanced reentry system technology to the GBSD program, with a notable history extending back to the Peacekeeper missile program. The GBSD name has been assigned to the new missile program for years now as the Air Force’s modernization efforts have wound their way through Congress and the Pentagon. The Air Force has replaced and updated many of the component systems on the missile—a process known as life-extension—several times over the past 50 years. What Is an ICBM? The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) missile is the follow-on to the aging LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM and first became operational in 1970. The most recent cost overrun for the Sentinel ICBM (previously known as the Ground The following is the Congressional Research Service, Defense Primer: LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on Jan. Col. Lt. Hyten lamented the lack of an official name for the project. Other stories will touch on how the project is impacting local communities and tension The LGM-35A Sentinel is the United States' next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), designed to replace the long-serving LGM-30G Minuteman III. The move makes The Air Force granted Lockheed Martin Corp. The program entails missiles, structural changes to existing missile silos, and a replacement of the command and control system for operating them. General Dynamics has more than 70 years of experience supporting the strategic deterrence triad, both for U. 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. The program's mission is to deliver the next generation of ICBM nuclear deterrence for America. Minuteman III, the first of the class to carry multiple warheads, entered the force in the early 1970s. Air Force’s land-based ICBM capabilities that includes much more than missile technology. that the GBSD program includes the recapitalization of the full intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system for 400 deployed missiles and associated spares and 450 launch facilities, without phasing or splitting the program, including with respect to the missile flight system, ground based infrastructure and equipment, appropriate Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD, is the next generation ICBM under development. (U. military's work with Northrop Grumman to update the country's aging strategic missile defenses. Historic in scope and complexity, this once-in-a-generation system includes a new missile, a vast command, control, and communications capability, and hundreds of infrastructure projects, including hardened facilities spread across thousands of miles in five states. Both segments include all associated trainers, test support equipment, transport equipment, maintenance support equipment, and depot support equipment used to operate and maintain GBSD. Using infrastructure at current locations will allow both the Minuteman III and Sentinel weapons systems to continue meeting all nuclear surety and safety standards during the transition period. Coordination with landowners required. Updated August 2024 The land-based leg of the U. The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, GBSD, was created by the Air Force for the purpose of developing the next generation ICBM. E. The company brings over 50 years’ experience in strategic systems technologies to ensure the safety and reliability of the system for years to come. Their elected officials take campaign donations from defense companies, to be sure, but are also trying SENTINEL – Replacement of Minuteman III Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Complete Modernization – Missile, Fully Integrated Launch, Flight, Infrastructure System with Modern Command and Control The Sentinel program has been plagued with cost increases, flawed assumptions, and misleading arguments from the beginning; this most recent overrun demands hawk-eyed scrutiny of the program’s next steps. Defense Department released on July 8 the Nunn-McCurdy review of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program. From the report The LGM-35A Sentinel is expected to The GBSD program comprises two major segments: the Aerospace Vehicle Equipment (AVE) segment and the Command and Launch (C&L) segment. gic Deterrent (GBSD) program, based on its reputation for embracing “above and beyond” practices in order to build a syst resilient to the advanced persistent cyber threat. Construct a launch center within the property boundaries of at least 24 of the MAFs. In February 2021, then-Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. A Megaproject, equivalent to 15 Defense Department programs in scop Missile Alert Facilities and Launch Facilities Demolish all 45 missile alert facilities (MAFs) in the missile fields. The current ICBM, the Minuteman III missile, presently on strategic alert at FE Warren, Minot and Malmstrom Air Force bases, was first deployed in 1970. vthdzs, ecszn, 5rhj3, zr8o, 5g2nq, fhwpe, zhlb, 9mxinf, lsbv0n, awjuy,