US Sentinel missile woes raise nuclear readiness concerns

The US Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program’s skyrocketing costs threaten the crucial weapon’s future just as the US faces growing nuclear competition from China and Russia.

This month, the US Air Force’s (USAF) Sentinel ICBM program, managed by Northrop Grumman, has seen its cost estimate soar to approximately US$160 billion, up from $95.8 billion, Reuters reported. The report asserts that soaring costs since 2020 may necessitate reducing the project’s scope or timeline.

The Sentinel program aims to replace aging Minuteman III missiles, ensuring the continuation of land-based US nuclear deterrent capabilities. However, the Reuters report notes that the latest cost escalation has triggered the Nunn-McCurdy Act, necessitating a formal justification to the US Congress for the program’s increased expenditure.

Nevertheless, Reuters says that the US Department of Defense (DOD) is expected to provide a new cost estimate soon, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin likely to address the US Congress next week. The report adds that rising costs are exerting pressure on other USAF programs as well.

The Reuters report says the DOD is considering modifications to Sentinel’s construction and schedule to manage expenses. It mentions that the USAF has previously acknowledged a cost rise to “at least” $131 billion in January, which already exceeded the Nunn-McCurdy threshold.

A three-way nuclear arms race between the US, China and Russia is already underway, with the US struggling to expand its arsenal in response to its rivals’ nuclear rearmament and threats.

In June 2024, The New York Times reported that amidst the growing nuclear capabilities of China and Russia, a senior Biden administration official, Pranay