The U.S. Air Force has taken the first Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silo offline at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming as it begins transitioning sites for the Sentinel (LGM-35A) replacement. The service says requirements to keep 400 nuclear missiles on alert will not be affected.
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Briefing
The silo at F.E. Warren is the first Minuteman III launcher to be shuttered in the Sentinel transition; the USAF emphasises that the requirement to keep 400 missiles on alert remains unchanged. See USAF sustainment activity at F.E. Warren for context: https://hype.aero/?story=5efad7bd-73d3-4a65-a0ba-6c8280ff318f
This operational step is part of the broader Sentinel (LGM-35A) replacement programme, which has recently advanced through key motor testing milestones: https://hype.aero/?story=c6b1a0d6-2721-48e8-b174-a1bd43a0ed8b
The move follows USAF approval of Sentinel silo development plans for missile wings, signalling the shift from Minuteman III sustainment to infrastructure modernization: https://hype.aero/?story=f2a4ddf1-65c2-4f29-b3ba-3491a4feada1
Reported By
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GAO: Air Force Must Strengthen Sentinel ICBM Transition Planning as Program Delays Mount • defence-industry.eu
GAO: Air Force Has No Construction Schedule for Sentinel ICBM Test Facility • insidedefense.com
Breaking Defense
• Michael Marrow