Northrop Grumman, US Air Force Assemble Inert Sentinel Missile for Flight Testing in 2027

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have fully assembled the Sentinel missile in its operational orientation, marking a major step towards the missile's design and suitability evaluation for flight testing in 2027. The inert missile was safely stacked and de-stacked on a test pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base, demonstrating the readiness to perform the complex vertical integration process. The achievement shows that Sentinel is moving from design into a tangible, fully integrated system, bringing the nation's next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile closer to defending the nation.