Source: Schiebel’s
Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.
Context:
- The LGM-35A Sentinel, the Air Force's planned next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile, is facing severe cost overruns that triggered a critical Nunn-McCurdy breach.
Details:
About Sentinel Nuclear Missile
The LGM-35A Sentinel, developed by Northrop Grumman for the USAF, will replace the LGM-30 Minuteman III ICBMs. Incorporating digital engineering and a modular open system architecture, it will reduce life-cycle costs and enhance interoperability.
Equipped with a W87-1 thermonuclear warhead, it will feature advanced launch, flight, and command systems, and maintain security during warhead maintenance. The missile will have a range exceeding 5,500 km, capable of reaching global targets within 30 minutes.
Background
- The Sentinel nuclear missile program was initiated to modernize the U.S. ICBM fleet, ensuring a reliable and credible deterrent against nuclear threats in the evolving global security landscape.
- The program underscores the importance of maintaining strategic stability and a formidable defense posture
Key Features
- Modernization: The Sentinel is designed to replace the Minuteman III missiles, which have been in service since the early 1970s.
- This modernization is crucial due to the advancing threats and the aging infrastructure of the existing missiles.
- Technological Advancements: The Sentinel incorporates state-of-the-art technologies to enhance its precision, reliability, and survivability. ]
- This includes advanced guidance systems, propulsion technology, and improved warhead delivery mechanisms.
- Strategic Importance: The Sentinel missile is a critical component of the U.S. nuclear triad, which also includes submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and strategic bombers.
- It ensures that the U.S. maintains a second-strike capability, which is essential for deterrence.
Financial Aspects
- Despite its strategic importance, the Sentinel program has faced scrutiny due to escalating costs.
- As of July 2024, the Pentagon has reaffirmed its commitment to the program, even as costs have significantly increased.
- Managing these budgetary challenges while maintaining the program’s timelines and objectives remains a focal point for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Global Implications: The development and deployment of the Sentinel missile have profound implications for global security:
- Deterrence: By strengthening the U.S. nuclear deterrent, the Sentinel contributes to global strategic stability.
- Arms Race: The introduction of advanced ICBMs could spur other nuclear-armed states to upgrade their arsenals, potentially leading to an arms race.
- Arms Control: The program affects arms control agreements and negotiations, as modernization efforts must be balanced with commitments to non-proliferation and disarmament.
Source
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/07/08/pentagon-keeps-commitment-to-sentinel-nuclear-missile-as-costs-balloon/
READ ABOUT INDIAN MISSILES- https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/indian-missiles-an-overview#:~:text=India%20has%20a%20storied%20history,missile%20programs%20in%20the%201970s.
ALSO ABOUT BASICS OF MISSILES- https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/the-basics-of-missiles
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PRACTICE QUESTION
- Consider the following statements regarding the Sentinel nuclear missile:
- The Sentinel missile is a part of the United States’ Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.
- The Sentinel is intended to replace the Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
- The development of the Sentinel missile has faced significant cost escalations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
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