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Defdex

Program · United States

LGM-35A Sentinel

Historical assessment published June 11, 2025: Intended to replace Minuteman III missiles and associated command-and-control, ground systems and infrastructure. The Air Force declared a critical unit-cost breach in January 2024. GAO describes program restructuring and software schedule concerns. Plans and forecasts describe the report period, not verified current status.

—Sentinel
Total acquisition cost
$170.60B
Estimate / observation: 2025-06-11 · BY2025 $
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Awards
0
0 recipients
Participants
0
None recorded
Products
1
Built for or fielded under it
News
0
2 sources cited

Cost to the government

  • Total acquisition costEstimated
    $170.60B
    Estimate / observation: 2025-06-11 · BY2025 $

    CAPE reassessment scenario for a reasonably modified Sentinel program with redesigned launch facilities: about $170.6B in constant FY2025 dollars, about 81% above the September 2020 estimate. Not an approved new baseline or the program-performance chart estimate. Observation date is GAO report publication; the paragraph does not provide an exact date for the underlying CAPE estimate. GAO-25-107569 printed p. 80 (PDF p. 90).

    U.S. Government Accountability Office

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Budget years are then-year dollars unless marked; program totals and unit costs state their dollar basis. Award values (what a company was obligated) are under Awards.

Products1

LGM-35A Sentinel

Intercontinental ballistic missile system intended to replace Minuteman III. GAO’s 2025 assessment includes the missile, command and control, ground systems and infrastructure in the acquisition scope.

Maturity not rated

Sources2

Profile1

  1. 1
    Government recordWeapon Systems Annual Assessment 2025 — LGM-35A Sentinel, p. 79

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Jun 11, 2025 · Supports Program, Program · program system:lgm-35a-sentinel

    “is intended to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile”

Other1

  1. 2
    Government recordWeapon Systems Annual Assessment 2025 — LGM-35A Sentinel, p. 80

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Jun 11, 2025 · Supports Cost, Program

    “September 2020 cost estimate, or $170.6 billion (in fiscal year”

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