The US Department of Defense is proceeding with its new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, even though it will now cost an estimated 81% more than the current system. The move follows the US’s proposal to “modernize” its nuclear arsenal, also known as the “nuclear triad.
The replacement of aging Minuteman III missiles through the Sentinel program now carries a sticker price tag of $140.9 billion — about double its initial cost estimate, which was calculated at $77.7 billions. This massive cost-overrun led to a Nunn-McCurdy review, the process that must be followed when a defense program increases by more than 25% its development costs. The Pentagon ultimately concluded there simply were no alternative drone systems.
While acknowledging the high cost of the acquisition, Undersecretary of Defense William LaPlante highlighted the perceived risks to the US. emphasizing the non-modernization of nuclear power The balloon price tag stems not only from new missile development but also from improving broader ground infrastructure. They include missile checkpoints, nuclear missile launch sites and test sites. The decision to introduce the Sentinel system has provoked considerable criticism. U.S. more than 700 scientists signed a letter to President Biden and Congress urging them to stop the project, calling it “expensive, dangerous, and unnecessary.”
They argue that developing new nuclear weapons is a waste of resources, without any strategic or technical understanding. Tara Drozdenko, director of global security programs at the Disturbed Scientists Group, said: “Buried in silos in the Midwest, these weapons raise the risk of a nuclear attack in our region it will not maximize any real security benefits.”
Current restrictions on U.S. and for Russia’s nuclear stockpiles, the New START treaty signed in 2010. However, the treaty’s future remains uncertain as it expires in 2026 with no guarantee of renewal Russia formally dropped its involvement last year, citing U.S. sanctions. sanctions on the Ukrainian conflict. Despite the suspension, Russia has remained in compliance with the treaty’s restrictions on nuclear weapons and delivery systems.
