An LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been fully assembled and vertically positioned at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, marking another milestone in preparations for the system’s planned first flight test in 2027.
The vertical stacking followed a four-month sequence of transportation, integration, and verification activities. The campaign assessed the performance and compatibility of the missile’s major components while also validating handling procedures, ground-support processes, and the readiness of personnel responsible for preparing the weapon for flight.
Viewers may note, Sentinel’s individual stages have already undergone extensive testing as separate components. This includes static-fire testing of its solid-fuel first-, second-, and third-stage rocket motors, providing data on propulsion performance before the stages are evaluated as part of an integrated missile configuration.
General Dale White, Director of Critical Major Weapon Systems for the Department of Defense, stated,
“Sentinel is no longer conceptual or designs for what the nation’s next-generation ICBM looks like; it’s a physical, fully integrated system that is one major step closer to being ready for flight testing. While this is a significant achievement, we will keep driving, firmly focused on delivering a modernized, credible strategic deterrent that will safeguard the nation and its allies well into the future.”
He added, “This is more than a milestone, this integration demonstrates our commitment to moving forward with the pace necessary to modernize the ground-based leg of our nuclear triad and deliver critical capability to the warfighter.”
Northrop Grumman’s vice president and general manager for strategic deterrent systems, Amanda Davis, said: “This vertical assembly demonstrates the momentum toward test launching Sentinel in 2027 and having missiles on alert by the early 2030s, ensuring the United States’ ground-based nuclear capabilities remain strong and reliable for decades to come.”
Sentinel will replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging LGM-30 Minuteman III. It is one of the most vital weapon system for the country and deserves a deeper look.
Source: Defense Updates
