Air Force Weighs Keeping 1970s-Era Missiles Until 2050
The US Air Force is considering contingency plans that would extend the life of 1970s-era intercontinental ballistic missiles by 11 more years to 2050 if delays continue to plague the new Sentinel models intended to replace them.
The current plan is to remove all 400 Minuteman III ICBMs made by Boeing Co. from silos by 2039. But the Air Force and lead contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. must manage the elaborate process to take out the older missiles, refurbish the silos and then install Sentinels — a missile minuet that must be accomplished without letting down the nation's nuclear guard.
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