LGM-35A Sentinel

Next-generation US silo ICBM under development to replace Minuteman III, program restructured in 2024, first flight test planned 2027, IOC expected early 2030s.

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-03

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

US ITAR-controlled

Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.

Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale

Fielded & proven

Operator data not public

Status: announced.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Overview

The Sentinel is intended to replace the aging Minuteman III fleet in existing silos. The program was restructured in 2024 after cost growth. Caveat: range figure is a Minuteman-III-class estimate, the system is not yet operational.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 13,000 km

Stronger than 69% of its class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.: 1 (W87-0/W87-1)

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: 3-stage solid

Specifications compiled from public Northrop Grumman and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-03.

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