The U.S. Air Force is replacing the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. The Sentinel ICBM represents the modernization of the land-based leg of the U.S. Nuclear Triad.
Note: The LGM-35A Sentinel was originally called the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, or GBSD, in the early stages of its development.
Mission
The LGM-35A Sentinel is the next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the replacement for Minuteman III (MMIII). It will be a core element of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces under the control of the Air Force Global Strike Command. The "L" in LGM is the Department of Defense designation for silo-launched; "G" means surface attack; and "M" stands for guided missile.
Features
The Sentinel weapon system will be deployed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to underground launch centers through a system of modern, hardened fiber-optic cables. Launch crews, consisting of two officers, will continue to perform around-the-clock alert.
The system will integrate with the nation’s upgraded Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) architecture, providing the president and secretary of war with highly reliable, secure command and control. A key feature of the Sentinel missile is its modular, open-architecture design, which allows for the rapid integration of new technologies to counter emerging threats.
Background
The Sentinel program, formerly known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), was initiated to replace the aging LGM-30G Minuteman III, which has been in service for over 50 years. After extensive analysis, the Air Force determined it would build entirely new, modern launch facilities, silos, and support infrastructure build new, modern launch silos, launch centers, communications systems, and infrastructure rather than rather than trying to refurbish the 1970s-era structures.
This modernization effort is the largest construction project in Air Force history and will re-capitalize the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad, ensuring a credible deterrent against the 21st-century adversaries for decades to come. The Sentinel will be deployed at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Intercontinental ballistic missile
Contractor: Northrop Grumman
Power Plant: Three solid-propellant rocket motors
Thrust: Not publicly available
Weight: Not publicly available
Diameter: Not publicly available
Range: 6,000-plus miles (5,218 nautical miles)
Speed: Approximately 15,000 mph (Mach 23) at burnout
Ceiling: Approximately 700 miles (1,120 kilometers)
Date Deployed: Initial capability projected for the early 2030s
Inventory: Projected: 400
Additional Links
Download the PDF version of the Sentinel Fact Sheet
Sentinel Deployment & Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal
Sentinel Project Information
Sentinel Environmental Impact Statement
Sentinel at Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
Points of Contact
Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Forces Strategic-Air
Public Affairs
245 Davis Ave. E Suite 198
Barksdale AFB, La. 71110
318-456-1305
E-mail: AFGSC.PAworkflow@us.af.mil
Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Public Affairs Office
1551 Wyoming Blvd SE; Kirtland AFB, NM 87117
505-846-5221
e-mail: afnwc.pa.ll@us.af.mil
(Current as of March 2026)