Sentinel missile test flight delayed by 2 years until 2026

The first test flight of a Sentinel nuclear missile has been delayed until 2026, a two-year setback for the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and the latest in trouble for a program plagued by high cost overruns. It is a sign of

Sentinel’s first developmental test flight is scheduled for February 2026, according to Air Force documents for the fiscal year 2025 budget request, which is later than initial tests scheduled for this year.

“Delays were caused by increased lead times for guidance computer components,” the Air Force said in a statement to The Hill.

“The first flight will be later than originally planned, but we are not on the critical path,” the spokesperson said.

Northrop Grumman, Sentinel’s contractor on the original $13 billion contract, conducted some preliminary tests of the missile’s components. The company says they’ve been successful.

The plan has faced intense scrutiny after it exceeded initial cost projections by 37 percent in January, triggering a Nunn-McCurdy breach. That means the Secretary of Defense will have to step in to review the plan.

The program is currently estimated to cost about $131 billion and was originally scheduled to be implemented around 2030, but that is expected to be delayed by at least two years.

The Air Force has argued that Sentinel is essential to national security and has committed to funding the program and making the necessary deals to achieve its goals.

The 2025 budget request includes more than $3 billion for Sentinel. A key design review of the program is expected to occur by March 2026, according to budget documents, which will indicate the program’s maturity and readiness to move toward production.

Full functional testing of the system is scheduled for 2027, and a system qualification phase to ensure reliability will occur in 2029.

As costs soar, some lawmakers are now questioning how the Air Force came up with initial cost estimates and calling for further investigation into the plan.

Sentinel replaces the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs scattered in underground silos across the rural western United States. Most of the increased costs are related to Sentinel’s extensive real estate portion, including the construction of new buildings and communication lines.

The Minuteman III missile is more than 50 years old, and the Air Force has said it can no longer extend its lifespan and requires a complete modernization.

The United States is modernizing its entire nuclear triad, from intercontinental ballistic missiles to bombers and submarines, an effort expected to cost more than $1 trillion.