Sentinel ICBM Development Advances with Successful Northrop Grumman Tests

Sentinel ICBM Development Advances with Successful Northrop Grumman Tests
by Staff Writers
Roy UT (SPX) Feb 27, 2024

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has marked a pivotal advancement in the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, completing a series of essential tests that signify progress in the engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) phase. The tests evaluated critical sections of the Sentinel ICBM at the Strategic Missile Test and Production Complex in Promontory, Utah, providing valuable data on the missile's inflight structural dynamics.

The campaign encompassed rigorous examinations of the missile's forward and aft sections, shedding light on the hardware's performance under simulated operational conditions. Such evaluations are key to refining engineering models, mitigating risks, and ensuring the missile's successful flight.

Specifically, the shroud fly-off and missile modal tests, integral components of the EMD contract with Northrop Grumman, have bolstered the program's maturity, aligning design predictions with empirical data.

Sarah Willoughby, Northrop Grumman's vice president and program manager for Sentinel, highlighted the significance of these tests, stating, "Working with the Air Force and our team of suppliers, we tested key elements of the missile's hardware to mature our design and lower risk. The shroud fly-off test confirmed our modeling predictions are accurate, while the missile stack test provided insights into inflight missile performance, aiding in the validation and fine-tuning of our models. These achievements reinforce our confidence as we advance toward delivering a safe, secure, and reliable capability to the nation."

The Sentinel program represents a critical modernization effort for the nation's ground-based strategic deterrent, ensuring its efficacy through 2075. Under Northrop Grumman's leadership, a nationwide team is tasked with developing the most technologically advanced segment of America's ground-based strategic deterrent. This collaborative effort with the Air Force and various suppliers underscores a comprehensive approach to maturing the design and reducing risks as the program reaches key EMD milestones.

Previous milestones under the EMD phase include the completion of stage-two and stage-one solid rocket motor static fire tests, along with hypersonic wind tunnel testing. These steps, along with the recent structural and aerodynamic evaluations, form a solid foundation for the program's ongoing development, reinforcing the commitment to enhancing national security through technological innovation and strategic deterrence.