LGM-35A Sentinel

LGM-35A Sentinel is a new generation intercontinental ballistic missile in the United States developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation. According to the $100 billion program, LGM-35A Sentinel missiles are to replace 400 Cold War missiles LGM-30G Minuteman III.

2023: Roll-out deadline to 2030 postponed

In June 2023, it became known that the United States does not have time to adopt a new generation intercontinental ballistic missile LGM-35A Sentinel - it is expected that it will enter the armed forces in 2030, and not in 2029, as originally planned.

It is necessary to replace 400 missiles from the Cold War LGM-30G Minuteman III. This is a laborious process - 450 launchers located on an area of ​ ​ 83 thousand square kilometers must be converted into new missiles.

Other problems complicate rearmament.

First, these are supply chain turmoil, as well as a lack of necessary materials.

Secondly, Northrop faced a personnel hunger, especially in the search for highly qualified software specialists who were not eager to undergo a long audit by the special services.

Third, Northrop did not have the infrastructure needed to develop classified missile control software.

It is noteworthy that the extreme problem most delays the deployment of Sentinel LGM-35A, since the US Air Force and the US National Security Agency cannot agree on a way to transfer data between networks with different security classifications.