Air Force Global Strike Command Faces Challenges with Sentinel ICBM Program

The United States Air Force is moving forward with the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, replacing the aging Minuteman III system, despite significant cost increases and schedule delays. The program, overseen by Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), aims to modernize the nation’s nuclear deterrent, but faces hurdles in construction and restructuring.

The Demand for Modernization

According to Gen. Stephen L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, the current Minuteman III ICBM has reached the limit of its operational capability. Gen. Davis stated that potential enemy threats have “evolved significantly” since the Minuteman III’s initial deployment during the Cold War. This necessitates a modernized system capable of deterring 21st-century threats.

Rising Costs and Construction Challenges

The Sentinel program is currently estimated to cost $141 billion, however, this figure is likely outdated. The Air Force has determined that adapting existing Minuteman III silos for the new Sentinel missiles would be too costly and time-consuming. Instead, the service will construct hundreds of new missile silos across Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.

The new infrastructure will include 24 forward launch centers, three centralized wing command centers, and over 5,000 miles of fiber optic cabling. This undertaking represents the largest U.S. Government civil works project since the completion of the Interstate Highway System and the most complex acquisition program in Air Force history, as noted by Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer in a 2024 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

Program Restructuring and Future Outlook

The Department of Defense is currently undertaking a “restructuring” of the Sentinel program, expected to be completed by the end of 2026. An updated budget reflecting these changes will be released following the restructuring. This restructuring comes as the military has not constructed new missile silos since the late 1960s and has not developed a new ICBM since the 1980s.

About Air Force Global Strike Command

Air Force Global Strike Command, led by Gen. Stephen L. Davis, is responsible for the nation’s ICBM force. Gen. Davis previously served as the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force from March 2022 to November 2025. He was commissioned as an officer in 1989 and has extensive experience in missile operations and testing, including service with the 321st Strategic Missile Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron.