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Air Force Plans New Sentinel ICBM Silos Amid Infrastructure Overhaul

Air Force Plans New Sentinel ICBM Silos Amid Infrastructure Overhaul

First seen 15 Oct 2026, 14:37 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster •October 15, 2026 at 22:40 UTC
  • •Air Force may build 120 new ICBM silos for the Sentinel program.
  • •Environmental impact analysis indicates existing infrastructure is largely unusable.
  • •New silos will be constructed at F.E. Warren, Malmstrom, and Minot Air Force Bases.

The U.S. Air Force is considering purchasing land for 120 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos as part of its Sentinel program. This decision follows an environmental impact analysis initiated to address infrastructure needs for the new Sentinel ICBM, which is set to replace the aging Minuteman III. The analysis revealed that much of the existing infrastructure was too old or costly to upgrade, prompting the Air Force to opt for new construction. The proposed sites include up to 30 silos each around F.E. Warren and Malmstrom Air Force Bases, and 60 around Minot Air Force Base. The Air Force plans to acquire up to 12 acres per silo. The supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) website indicates that over a quarter of the sites may be on land not currently owned by the Air Force. The program aims to replace the 450 active Minuteman silos on a one-for-one basis.

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Timeline

2023-03-01
Environmental Impact Statement completed
The EIS cleared a procedural hurdle for the Sentinel program, focusing on replacing the Minuteman III ICBM.
Airandspaceforces
2024-01-01
Cost overruns trigger Pentagon review
The Sentinel program faced critical cost and schedule overruns, prompting a notice to Congress under the Nunn-McCurdy Act.
Airandspaceforces
2025-04-01
Decision to build new silos announced
Air Force officials decided it would be more effective to construct new silos rather than upgrade old ones.
Airandspaceforces
2026-10-09
Supplemental EIS website launched
A new website was launched to provide updates on the supplemental environmental impact analysis for the Sentinel program.
Airandspaceforces

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Common questions

What is the purpose of the new silos?
The new silos are intended to replace the aging Minuteman III ICBMs as part of the Sentinel program.
How many new silos are planned?
The Air Force is considering the construction of 120 new silos across three bases.
What are the environmental considerations?
An environmental impact analysis is being conducted to assess potential effects of the new construction.