March 24, 2026 Air Force leaders visit Minot AFB to advance Sentinel modernization The visit focused on ensuring alignment between program development and operational execution as the Air Force prepares to transition from the Minuteman III system to the LGM-35A Sentinel.
March 19, 2026 Department leader says nuclear triad must be upgraded to meet dual threat With soon to be two near-peer nuclear-armed competitors to deter, the United States must upgrade its nuclear forces, which serve as a backdrop to conventional capabilities that must also be robust, War Department leaders told lawmakers.
March 4, 2026 ICBM test launch verifies multiple re-entry vehicle, system reliability Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with two test re-entry vehicles at 11:01 p.m. Pacific time March 3 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Feb. 17, 2026 Delivering deterrence: Sentinel restructure to complete in 2026; initial capability timeline set The U.S. Air Force rolled out its plan for the LGM-35A Sentinel program, which will deliver the nation’s next-generation, modernized, land-based nuclear deterrent to America’s warfighters.
Jan. 13, 2026 MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters complete 1st operational ICBM convoy security mission Two MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron conducted their first operational Minuteman III ICBM convoy Jan. 8, marking an important milestone in the modernization of nuclear security operations.
Sept. 4, 2024 USecAF, DAF senior leaders, congressional staff delegation visit Malmstrom AFB Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, AFMC Commander, joined Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton, DAF senior leaders and a Congressional staff delegation on a visit to Malmstrom AFB to better understand current missions and operations and to emphasize the strategic importance of ongoing nuclear
Aug. 16, 2024 Sentinel: The History of the DAF Modernizing the Backbone of America’s National Security The U.S. Air Force is replacing the 54-year-old LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM weapon system with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. Upgrading to Sentinel ICBMs ensures the land-based leg of America's Nuclear Triad remains safe, secure and effective.
July 8, 2024 Department of Defense announces results of Sentinel Nunn-McCurdy Review On Jan. 18, 2024, the Air Force notified Congress that the Sentinel program exceeded its baseline cost projections, resulting in a critical breach under the Nunn-McCurdy statute.
Nov. 28, 2023 AFGSC Director of ICBM Modernization discusses “monumental” Sentinel Program at Joint Engineers Conference Brig. Gen. Colin J. Connor, Air Force Global Strike Command Director of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Modernization, recently highlighted the future of the LGM-35A Sentinel during the annual Joint Engineers Conference in Helena, Montana.
April 5, 2022 Air Force’s new intercontinental ballistic missile system has a name: Sentinel Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall approved the designation for the system that modernizes the ICBM leg of the Nation’s nuclear triad.