United States In development Northrop Grumman
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
Development status
Operator data not public
Status: announced.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
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 |
|---|
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.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Three-stage solid-fuel rocket |
|---|---|
| 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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Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel? +
The Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel has a maximum range of 13,000 km.
What engine does the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel use? +
The Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel is powered by the Three-stage solid-fuel rocket.
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