The U.S. Air Force has activated its first Sentinel missile unit at Minot Air Force Base, initiating a $141 billion overhaul of America’s land-based nuclear arsenal.
At a Glance
- The Air Force established Detachment 12 at Minot AFB to oversee the Sentinel missile program
- Sentinel ICBMs will replace Minuteman III missiles that have been in service since the 1970s
- Over 600 facilities across 40,000 square miles will be upgraded or rebuilt
- The program’s acquisition cost has ballooned to $140.9 billion, up 81% from initial estimates
- Sentinel missiles are projected to remain operational through 2075
Strategic Pivot
On May 21, the U.S. Air Force formally activated Detachment 12 at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the first operational unit dedicated to deploying the LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). This marks the beginning of the replacement of the Cold War-era Minuteman III system, which has formed the backbone of the U.S. land-based nuclear deterrent since 1970. The move is part of a sweeping modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad, ensuring its viability against evolving threats.
The Sentinel initiative involves a massive infrastructure campaign spanning three states. More than 600 facilities—450 missile silos and dozens of underground launch control centers—will be either refurbished or completely rebuilt across 40,000 square miles. The effort represents not just a hardware replacement but an architectural leap: Sentinel will employ modular components and open software architecture, enabling future upgrades and reducing long-term sustainment costs.
Unlike its predecessor, Sentinel is designed to be adaptable to emerging technologies, including cyber defense tools and artificial intelligence-driven targeting systems. According to Air Force officials, these capabilities will allow the missile system to evolve in real time with strategic needs.
Watch a report: The $130 Billion Plan to Replace the U.S.’s Minuteman Nuclear Missiles.
Risk and Opportunity
Though strategically significant, the Sentinel program has already encountered financial turbulence. Initial projections of $77 billion have ballooned to $140.9 billion—a rise of 81%—due to unexpected construction, material, and cybersecurity requirements. Still, the Department of Defense has approved the program to proceed under Nunn-McCurdy review rules, citing its critical role in deterrence strategy.
The program aims to achieve initial operating capability by 2029, with full deployment by 2036. Once in place, the new system is expected to serve through 2075, providing a sustained deterrent in a period of growing nuclear competition, particularly with China and Russia. The overhaul also supports thousands of jobs in rural regions of Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, where the missiles will be based.
However, watchdog groups and some lawmakers have raised concerns about the program’s cost trajectory and potential technical vulnerabilities. Others argue that the focus should shift toward mobile or sea-based deterrents. Still, with the activation of Detachment 12, the U.S. has clearly committed to a fixed-site, long-range missile strategy as a cornerstone of its defense posture for the next half-century.
