Despite the significant budget overrun reported to Congress last week, Air Force officials have confirmed their commitment to the development of the forthcoming intercontinental ballistic missile program.
Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, who serves as the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, assured those at a recent event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that the Sentinel project will receive the necessary funding, even if it requires strategic adjustments,” he stated on Wednesday.
The Air Force has recently informed Congress that the costs for the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM program have surged by 37 percent over prior estimates, pushing the total expenditure close to $132 billion. This escalation surpasses the limits set by the Nunn-McCurdy Act, compelling Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to endorse the program to prevent its termination.
Kristyn Jones, acting in the capacity of the undersecretary of the Air Force, explained that the initial cost estimates were based on assumptions that have since proven to be unreliable. With the benefit of enhanced information, she anticipates that future cost projections made during the Nunn-McCurdy review will be more accurate.
The Government Accountability Office issued a cautionary note in June, pointing out that Northrop Grumman, the contractor responsible for the ICBM’s development, was encountering difficulties related to workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and delays in obtaining necessary clearances.
Jones clarified during her appearance at the CSIS event that the financial overruns are not directly attributed to the missile’s design or development but are primarily due to the extensive infrastructure work involved, such as constructing new silos and modernizing missile fields.
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