The U.S. Air Force successfully tested the reentry vehicle for its new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile on Oct. 16, 2026, according to a service announcement. The test validated the vehicle’s performance during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, a critical step for the program that the Air Force has designated as its highest-priority nuclear modernization effort.
The Sentinel, also known as the LGM-35A, is designed to replace the aging Minuteman III ICBM fleet. The reentry vehicle test is part of the system’s development and evaluation phase, which aims to ensure the missile can deliver its warhead accurately and reliably.
The successful test follows a series of milestones for the Sentinel program. The Air Force has emphasized its importance for maintaining the nation’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. The service has stated that the Sentinel is essential to modernize the land-based leg of the nuclear triad, which also includes submarine-launched missiles and strategic bombers.
Sources: Naval News · Defence Blog