US Air Force Proposes Land Acquisition for 120 New Sentinel ICBM Silos

The United States Air Force announced in October 2026 a plan to acquire private land for the construction of up to 120 new LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. This move marks a significant shift in the modernization of the American nuclear triad's land-based leg, moving away from the initial strategy of reusing existing infrastructure. The proposed acquisitions are concentrated around three major installations: F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Under the revised plan, the Air Force is evaluating the purchase of up to 12 acres per silo site. Specifically, the service is looking to acquire land for 30 new silos near F.E. Warren, 30 near Malmstrom, and 60 near Minot. Additionally, officials are considering the reuse of inactive sites formerly operated by the 564th Missile Squadron at Malmstrom for another 60 silos. Beyond the launch facilities, the Air Force plans to build new launch centers for command and control, with each requiring up to 16 acres. While the service aims to reuse existing Missile Alert Facility sites where feasible, Minot may require construction in previously undeveloped areas.

This infrastructure pivot follows a 2024 Nunn-McCurdy Act breach triggered by an 81 percent cost overrun, primarily attributed to civil engineering challenges rather than the missile itself. Analysis conducted in early 2025 determined that the 55-year-old Minuteman III silos were too degraded to be refurbished cost-effectively. Consequently, the Pentagon certified a restructured program that prioritizes building entirely new silos on a one-for-one replacement basis for the 450 active Minuteman sites.

The Air Force has launched a supplemental environmental impact analysis to address these changes, with a 30-day public scoping period beginning in October 2026. A draft statement is expected by fall 2027, followed by a final version in spring 2028. Once the Secretary of the Air Force signs a Record of Decision, land acquisition and construction can officially commence. Initial operational capability for the Sentinel system is currently projected for the early 2030s.

The LGM-35A Sentinel program is designed to replace the LGM-30G Minuteman III, which has served as the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad since 1970. The existing network consists of 450 active silos and 45 missile alert facilities spread across the western United States. While the Minuteman III has undergone various life-extension programs, the underlying infrastructure is over 55 years old and has reached a state of degradation where further refurbishment is no longer considered viable.

The modernization effort occurs against a backdrop of shifting global nuclear dynamics. Since 2021, satellite imagery has revealed extensive Chinese construction of hundreds of new ICBM silos on the Gunza plateau and other regions, potentially housing the solid-fuel DF-41 missile. While China is expanding its total number of silos to increase its strategic options and decoy capabilities, the U.S. plan remains a one-for-one replacement of its existing 450-silo force. The Sentinel program faced a critical hurdle in early 2024 when it triggered a Nunn-McCurdy review due to an 81 percent cost increase. This led to a 120-day review that ultimately recertified the program as vital for national defense but necessitated the current infrastructure-heavy approach.