U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his colleagues in introducing a bill to strengthen and solidify the Sentinel program at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, which is vital to U.S. nuclear deterrence. The bill would provide multiyear procurement authority for LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles, help to stabilize key supply chains and increase program efficiency.
“This legislation is a win for Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana’s airmen and our national security. With the upcoming retirement of the Minuteman III and a new generation of GBSD it’s important to ensure the Sentinel program has sufficient authorities for proper and timely deployment,” said Senator Daines. “Montana is proud to house 150 ICBMs, the most powerful nuclear weapons known to mankind, and this bill will help ensure Malmstrom stays at the forefront of nuclear innovation and help reinforce America’s effective ‘peace through strength’ strategy to deter our adversaries.”
Background:
According to the 2022 United States Nuclear Posture Review, the People’s Republic of China “has embarked on an ambitious expansion, modernization, and diversification of its nuclear forces” and the Russian Federation continues to “modernize and expand its nuclear forces.”
The nuclear triad provides nuclear deterrence through land-, sea-, and air-based forces. In order to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear triad, the Air Force will replace the LGM–30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system with the LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system.
The Sentinel Systems Directorate is principally located at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) in Utah. F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, Malmstrom AFB in Montana, Minot AFB in North Dakota, Utah Test and Training Range, Camp Guernsey in Wyoming, and Camp Navajo in Arizona will all play a role in the Sentinel program.