A recent report from Express on December 12, 2023, the United States has introduced its cutting-edge defense initiative, the LGM-35 Sentinel—a hypersonic missile that’s making waves, dwarfing even the destructive force of the Hiroshima bomb.
Currently in the works, this colossal weapon boasts a warhead a whopping 20 times larger than the one dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II. Destined to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles stationed in key locations across North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska, the LGM-35 Sentinel is at the forefront of the nation’s defense modernization efforts.
Developed by Northrop Grumman under a substantial £10.6 billion ($13.3 billion) contract from the Department of the Air Force, the missile represents a shift in plans, with Boeing initially on board before withdrawing from the project.
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The Minuteman III, a stalwart since 1970, will gracefully step aside over the next decade as the LGM-Sentinel takes its place, beginning in the late 2020s. However, this ambitious move comes with a hefty £210 billion ($264 billion) price tag over a 50-year life cycle.
At the core of the LGM-35 Sentinel lies the formidable W87 Mod 1 (W87-1) thermonuclear warhead, surpassing the capabilities of the Minuteman III, which relies on a W78 warhead.
Extensive testing of this groundbreaking weapon is set to take place at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), California. Missile launches from the California base over the Pacific Ocean will be followed by additional tests at strategic locations such as the US Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, US Army Garrison–Kwajalein Atoll, and within the territorial waters of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been a vocal supporter of this new weapons program, stressing the importance of the United States staying at the forefront of technological advancements amidst rising global tensions, particularly in response to efforts by Russia and China to develop advanced weaponry.
Physicist David Wright, former co-director of the UCS Global Security Program, highlighted the relevance of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in today’s context due to their accuracy and near-undetectability, suggesting a shift in the global security landscape.
As global threats persist, with Russia involved in the conflict in Ukraine and China asserting dominance in the South China Sea, the U.S. government sees the LGM-35 Sentinel as a critical deterrent and a means to uphold its position as a technological powerhouse in defense.
The unveiling of this $100 billion missile project underscores the ongoing arms race, emphasizing the need for nations to continually upgrade their defense capabilities in response to geopolitical challenges. The LGM-35 Sentinel represents a significant leap forward for the United States in maintaining a robust and state-of-the-art strategic missile system in an ever-changing global security landscape.
