Lockheed Martin has been awarded nearly $1bn to develop the MK21A reentry vehicle for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile

Lockheed Martin has received funding to develop a reentry vehicle for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. This was reported by the US Department of Defence.

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The Pentagon is developing the Sentinel programme, which will see a replacement for the Minuteman III. The cost of the project will be almost $100 billion. LGM-35A will become part of America's nuclear triad and will be able to deliver nuclear warheads to any point in the world, providing effective deterrence.

Lockheed Martin received $996 million to develop the combat module. It is called the MK21A. The company said it is proud to partner with the US Air Force to modernise strategic deterrence capabilities.

The LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles are scheduled to be deployed by the end of this decade. The launch range will be more than 10,000 kilometres. The MK21A reentry vehicle will carry a modernised W87-1 nuclear warhead.

The US is actively modernising other components of the nuclear triad. In particular, the B-21 Raider strategic bomber will make its first flight by the end of 2023. The Pentagon also recently announced plans to develop a B61-13 free-fall nuclear bomb, which will be more powerful than the B61-12.

In addition, the authorities are investing in building Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines with Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missiles. The US Navy wants to build 12 submarines. By the end of the programme, the build-test cycle will be reduced from the current 84 months to 70 months.

Source: Pentagon