US Air Force and Lockheed Martin test next-generation ICBM reentry vehicle

News, US June 20, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Air Force and defense contractor Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a flight test of the Mk21A Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) reentry vehicle. This test marks a pivotal advancement in developing and deploying the United States’ strategic military assets.

The recent test focused on evaluating the design components and technologies of the Mk21A reentry vehicle. The primary goal was gathering data to inform the vehicle’s final design and guide subsequent flight tests. Lockheed Martin, entrusted with this critical project, emphasized the importance of these assessments.

Neither the Air Force nor Lockheed Martin provided additional specifics about the latest test, however, Lockheed did mention that “data collected during the event will further inform Mk21A design and future flight test activities.”

Lockheed Martin is progressing in refining the vehicle’s design, including essential subsystems such as arming and fusing, as well as the support equipment. Vice president of Strategic Reentry at Lockheed Martin, Jay Watson highlighted the company’s extensive experience and innovative approaches.

“This progress is built on a strong foundation Lockheed Martin’s 65-plus years of demonstrated exceptional performance in reentry technologies and a pioneering digital engineering approach on this program from its beginning,” Watson stated.

“We remain focused on delivering this capability for the warfighter as a trusted partner to the U.S. Air Force for ICBM reentry systems and modernization of the deterrent triad,” he added.

^{A team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test reentry vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, US. (Image Credit: U.S. Space Force/Senior Airman Rocio Romo)}

The Mk21A reentry vehicle is a critical component of the U.S. military’s modernization efforts. Lockheed Martin secured a $1 billion contract to develop the vehicle last year. The Mk21A is designed to carry the W87-1 nuclear warhead, an advanced iteration of the W87 warhead currently deployed on the Minuteman III ICBM’s Mk 21 reentry vehicle.

The W87-1 warhead is part of a broader initiative to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. This upgrade is crucial as the current Minuteman III system, which has been in service since the 1970s, approaches the end of its operational life. Work on the Mk21A reentry vehicle is being conducted in Pennsylvania and is scheduled for completion by October 2026.

Air Force plans indicate the procurement of at least 426 Mk21A reentry vehicles, with deliveries starting in fiscal 2028 and continuing through 2039. Additionally, the Air Force is also funding research for a next-generation reentry vehicle. Recent tests of other Sentinel components by Northrop Grumman, including shroud fly-off and missile stack tests, aim to replace the aging Minuteman III fleet with over 600 new ICBMs by 2030.

The future LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, set to replace the Minuteman III, will utilize the Mk21A reentry vehicle. The Sentinel ICBM program aims to introduce a new generation of ground-based strategic deterrent capabilities, with deployment expected to begin in 2029. This transition is part of the broader modernization of the United States’ nuclear triad, which includes land-based ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers.