The Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. on June 4 at 12:56 a.m., Pacific Time. Another test is scheduled for June 6.
ICBM Modernization and Sustainment
Lawmakers are taking several steps to increase oversight of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program after the Air Force announced earlier this year that it was suffering critical cost and schedule overruns—but there is seemingly little appetite to cancel or curb the program.
No matter what happens with the Nunn-McCurdy review of the Sentinel ICBM program, the nation must have a land-based element of its nuclear triad, Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief William LaPlante told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee.
While the Pentagon is halfway through its review of the Air Force’s new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program in the wake of “critical” cost and schedule overruns, the service has declared a similar issue for the helicopters meant to provide security and transport across those ...
Brig. Gen. Luke C.G. Cropsey, or whoever succeeds him as the Department of the Air Force’s top acquisition official for command, control, and communications/battle management, is poised to take command of the new Air Force Information Dominance Systems Center. The service will also establish a program ...
The Air Force Safety Center unveiled a new strategic plan meant to help the center keep pace as the Air Force writ large expands its operations in space, updates its nuclear inventory, and aims to move faster in combat than it ever has before.
New recommendations arguing for more Pentagon flexibility to reprogram funds are a “terrible” idea, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said, arguing that the overrun on the Sentinel ICBM proves the Pentagon can’t be trusted with such authority.
The Air Force is looking at a variety of potential offsets to cover the $35 billion overrun on the Sentinel ICBM, but senior service officials hope the offsets can be found from outside the service's regular budget.
The new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile being developed by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman will cost 37 percent more than expected and take at least two years longer than previous projections before achieving initial operational capability—compelling the service to extend the life of some ...