Numerous Sentinel nuclear missile silos might be constructed on private properties within the United States
The U.S. Air Force is planning to construct new missile silos as part of the LGM-35A Sentinel program, a move aimed at saving time and costs, according to Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the service's top nuclear weapons planner.
The first site at F.E. Warren Air Force Base has been taken down, though it was not immediately clear whether it was a decommissioned Minuteman silo. The Air Force did not clarify Maj. Gen Colin Connor's remarks about the first site at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Lt. Gen. Gebara believes that building all new silos could address shortcomings at some current facilities, as well as avoid delays tied to converting existing silos while the Minuteman III fleet remains on alert.
Minot Air Force Base, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, and Malmstrom Air Force Base host the missile fields. Minot is scheduled to be the last missile base to transition to Sentinel, a process that could extend into the 2040s.
Katie Parks, the service's deputy ICBM program executive officer, supports the new silos, stating that they could help address issues such as flooding risks and potential hazards like nearby wind turbines that could interfere with helicopter operations.
The new approach avoids the need for refitting old Minuteman III silos. However, Lt. Gen. Gebara suggests that in some cases, private property may need to be acquired for the project. The Air Force will seek community input on site selection as part of an upcoming supplemental environmental review.
Exact timelines and costs for the transition remain uncertain as the service restructures the program. The U.S. Air Force is preparing to build new silos on hundreds of new sites, with a preference for entirely new locations rather than refitting old silos. Some land acquisition may involve private land near existing federal land sites, likely in missile field regions, including areas around Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Officials did not provide specific details about the cost and timeline for building all new silos. The transition to Sentinel could allow the Air Force to keep some Minuteman IIIs operational longer by salvaging spare parts from retired missiles. The Sentinel program is meant to replace the Minuteman III, which has been the land-based leg of the nuclear triad since the 1970s.
