New Launch Silo Design Marks Major Milestone In ICBM Program

The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman have begun construction on a prototype launch silo for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile at Northrop Grumman’s Strategic Missile Test and Production Complex in Promontory, Utah. The new silo design is intended to enable engineers to test and refine modern construction techniques and validate the design before work begins in operational missile fields. The program has undergone significant restructuring due to cost overruns, with a revised cost estimate expected by the end of 2026. The US Air Force plans to build 24 launch centers and three missile wing command centers, with the first missile pad launch planned for 2027. This development was first reported by AeroTime.