The United States has taken another major step in modernizing its nuclear deterrence capabilities. In collaboration with Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Air Force successfully completed a key test of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. The test was carried out at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, where the missile’s second-stage solid rocket motor was fired inside a specialized vacuum chamber that replicates the conditions of high altitude and spaceflight.

Data collected during the test will be used to evaluate the motor’s performance and confirm design predictions. Officials noted that this phase is critical in reducing risk and maturing the design of the Sentinel program. Sarah Willoughby, Vice President at Northrop Grumman, highlighted that the data would be instrumental in further refining the missile to maximize performance.

According to Maj. Gen. John Newberry, commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, this test represents an essential step in the ongoing process of modernizing America’s land-based nuclear deterrent. The Sentinel ICBM program is designed to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles and secure U.S. nuclear capabilities for decades to come.

Analysts emphasized that the successful test demonstrates the program’s progress toward its critical design review stage, while also pushing the limits of the missile’s design under realistic stress conditions. The U.S. plans to field at least 400 Sentinel ICBMs, reinforcing its strategic deterrence posture and signaling Washington’s determination to maintain superiority in nuclear capabilities amid growing global tensions.