Air Force has halted work on parts of its ICBM program
Work on the Sentinel command and launch segment is on hold due to “evolving” requirements, officials say.
Audrey Decker | February 10, 2025 07:25 PM ET
Air Force Nuclear Acquisition Missiles
Work on the command and launch segments of the Air Force’s Sentinel ICBM program are on hold while service leaders formulate a plan to restructure the way-over-budget effort to replace its aging intercontinental ballistic missiles, service officials said Monday.
“The Air Force’s ICBM Systems Directorate is assessing aspects of the current development effort that may be paused, or halted, as the Air Force restructures the program and updates the acquisition strategy,” a service spokesperson said in a statement. “Due to evolving launch facility requirements in the Command & Launch segment, the Air Force directed the Northrop Grumman Corporation to suspend the design, testing, and construction work related to the Command & Launch Segment, specifically [Launch Facility]-26 at Vandenberg SFB, CA, the Peacekeeper LF at Hill AFB, UT, the Physical Security Systems Test Facility at Dugway, UT, LF derivative training devices (including the Maintenance Training Facility and Security Forces Tactics Trainer at each missile wing), and the LF Standard Design.”
The program’s restructuring was announced last July after Sentinel’s projected costs ballooned to $141 billion, 81 percent beyond initial estimates, and after Pentagon officials said there is no viable alternative to pressing ahead with the program.
https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/02/air-force-halted-work-parts-new-icbm-program/402897/?oref=d1-featured-river-top
