ICBM Past, Present & Future | ICBM Modernization Series

Come behind the scenes for the last episode of our ICBM Modernization Series and meet the Airmen who make the mission possible by being ALWAYS ready to provide long-range precision strike… Anytime and anywhere! Learn more about the Minuteman III here: https://www.afgsc.af.mil/About/Fact-S... Learn more about the Sentinel program here: https://www.afgsc.af.mil/Sentinel-GBSD/ - Nuclear deterrence is our Nation's #1 priority mission. The nuclear deterrent underwrites every U.S. military operation on the globe, it is the backstop and foundation of our national defense and that of our allies. The Minuteman weapon system was conceived in the late 1950s and Minuteman I was deployed in the early 1960s. Minuteman was a revolutionary concept and an extraordinary technical achievement. Both the missile and basing components incorporated significant advances beyond the relatively slow-reacting, liquid-fueled, remotely-controlled intercontinental ballistic missiles of the previous generation. From the beginning, Minuteman missiles have provided a quick-reacting, inertially guided, highly survivable component to America's strategic deterrent program. Minuteman's maintenance concept capitalizes on high reliability and a "remove and replace" approach to achieve a near 100 percent alert rate. Through state-of-the-art improvements, the Minuteman system has evolved to meet new challenges and assume new missions. Modernization programs have resulted in new versions of the missile, expanded targeting options, improved accuracy and survivability. Today's Minuteman weapon system is the product of almost 60 years of continuous enhancement. The current ICBM force consists of 400 Minuteman III missiles located at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The United States Air Force is working to replace the aging Minuteman III, the most responsive leg of the triad, with the new Sentinel ICBM. Although certain components and subsystems have been upgraded since the Minuteman III ICBM system first became operational in the early 1970s, most of the system’s fundamental infrastructure still uses the original equipment. The Sentinel weapon system is the most cost-effective option for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective land-based leg of the nuclear triad and would extend its capabilities through 2075. The Sentinel ICBMs will replace the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs currently in service for more than 50 years in Air Force missile fields at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and Minot AFB, North Dakota. U.S. Air Force Video by Mr. Adam White, Senior Airman Emily Huber, Senior Airman Ruben Garibay, and Senior Airman Victoria Edwards, 2nd Audiovisual Squadron U.S. Air Force Video released by Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs Office Stay up to date: Website: https://www.afgsc.af.mil/ DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AFGSC/ Facebook:   / airforceglobalstrikecommand   Instagram:   / afglobalstrike   Twitter:   / afglobalstrike   LinkedIn:   / air-force-global-strike-command   YouTube:    / @afglobalstrike   Threads: https://www.threads.net/@afglobalstrike Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/afglobalstri... #AirForce #USAF #AFGSC #ICBM #MissileAlertFacility #MMIII #Sentinel #Missileer #NuclearTriad #NuclearDeterrence #AlwaysReady