Northrop Grumman has released new footage of the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), offering one of the latest public glimpses into the program that will replace the aging Minuteman III as the land-based leg of America’s nuclear triad.
On July 22, 2026, the defense contractor shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing various aspects of the Sentinel program.
We’re working with the @usairforce to design, prototype and test every element of Sentinel. With 10,000+ experts nationwide and $2B+ invested, we’re building the future of deterrence to safeguard America for decades. pic.twitter.com/xFHh2TXggf
— Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) July 22, 2026
The newly released footage highlights the ongoing development and testing effort behind one of the Pentagon’s most important strategic modernization programs. Sentinel is being developed in partnership with the U.S. Air Force to replace the more than 50-year-old Minuteman III missile system, ensuring the credibility of the United States’ nuclear deterrent well into the second half of the century.
According to Northrop Grumman, the Sentinel program continues to make steady progress toward its planned first flight test in 2027, with the weapon system expected to achieve initial operational capability in the early 2030s.
The company says every major propulsion element of the three-stage solid-fueled missile has already been prototyped and tested. Engineers have assembled the first complete three-stage Sentinel booster, while solid rocket motors for the first five planned flight tests are already in production. Additional developmental milestones include successful interstage separation tests, payload shroud validation, and qualification testing of the missile’s navigation and guidance hardware under flight-like conditions.
Unlike its predecessor, Sentinel was designed using a fully digital engineering environment, building on techniques first employed during development of the B-21 Raider bomber. The approach allows engineers to move more quickly from digital design to physical hardware while improving collaboration and reducing development risk.
The missile itself incorporates lightweight composite solid rocket motors that Northrop Grumman says are approximately 70 percent lighter than those used by the Minuteman III, improving payload capacity, range, and overall performance while maintaining the reliability required for strategic deterrence missions.
Sentinel extends well beyond the missile. The program also includes the complete modernization of the nation’s land-based nuclear infrastructure across more than 32,000 square miles in five U.S. states. Existing launch facilities are being replaced with newly designed modular silos intended to simplify construction, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and provide greater adaptability for future upgrades.
Northrop Grumman has already broken ground on a prototype launch silo to validate the new construction approach, while mission-critical transport systems have completed cross-country testing to verify the safe movement of high-value strategic assets. The program’s digital Launch Support System has also completed its critical design review, clearing the way for system integration, testing, and qualification.
Supporting the effort is a nationwide industrial network of more than 500 suppliers and a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. The company says it has invested more than $2 billion specifically in expanding solid rocket motor production capacity and capabilities that directly support Sentinel manufacturing.
The Sentinel program remains one of the largest and most ambitious U.S. defense modernization efforts currently underway. As development continues, the program is expected to transition from extensive ground testing and infrastructure construction toward its first flight demonstration in 2027, marking a major milestone on the path to replacing the Minuteman III and sustaining the land-based component of the U.S. nuclear deterrent for decades to come.