WASHINGTON, May 28: The US Air Force is seeking $4.5 billion for the LGM-35A Sentinel, the next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in FY2027, marking the first budget year where funding is fully aligned with a comprehensive restructure triggered by a 2024 Nunn-McCurdy recertification, according to a Sputnik correspondent’s analysis of the US Air Force’s FY2027 budget report.
The July 8, 2024 Nunn-McCurdy recertification was triggered after the program experienced significant cost overruns that breached statutory thresholds, prompting a mandatory review of the system’s viability. This process led the Milestone Decision Authority to rescind the 2020 Milestone B decision to allow for a refinement of requirements and the implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
As part of this new framework, the program is shifting more technical responsibilities from the prime contractor, Northrop Grumman, to the government.
Funding for FY2027 reflects this shift, with the total budget for the program element increasing approximately 73% from $2.6 billion in FY2026 to $4.5 billion in FY2027 to support risk reduction and parallel path efforts.
The budget allocates $1.45 billion for flight systems to mature missile boosters and guidance systems and $981.7 million for command and launch systems to ensure secure communication and control.
Additional resources are directed toward systems engineering and software development to establish a modular architecture and a robust cybersecurity ecosystem.
The program is currently in a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase and expects to finalize the restructure by early 2027. Once complete, the program will move into the Engineering, Manufacturing and Design phase, with upcoming milestones including the first pad-launch flight test in 2027 and the first silo flight test in 2030.
(UNI)
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