Why Trump-Musk Should Actually DOGE the Sentinel ICBM Program?

In a compelling argument presented in his article, author William Hartung, makes a strong case for the Trump Administration to actually DOGE the USAF's Sentinel ICBM program; which is intended as a replacement for the existing & ageing Minuteman III ICBMs of the 1970s era, which form the land-based component of the U.S. nuclear triad for over 5 decades; rather than making deep cuts of up to $1 trillion in U.S. federal spending on the civilian side intended at making space for the nation's first Trillion dollar defense budget in 2026.

The development of the Sentinel ICBM is part of the U.S. nuclear triad, which includes, the development of the B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber for the USAF which will replace the USAF's B-2 Spirit bombers and the development of Virginia and Columbia-Class nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy to replace the USN's existing Ohio-class submarines dating back to the 1980s. The development of the LGM-35A Sentinel is likely to cost around $160 billion, instead of the earlier projected $91 billion as the additional costs of replacing the copper cabling and other launch infrastructure in the existing missile silos, located across the entire U.S. Northwestern plains, were not included earlier.

Under the latest projections made in 2024, the per unit cost of the Sentinel has been projected at $160 million, in addition, to the overall development costs of $160 billion on the program. Further, with around 400 Sentinel ICBMs to be procured, the program is likely to cost the U.S. taxpayers a whopping sum of around $225 billion in development & procurement costs alone over the long term, which excludes the sustainment & maintenance costs over the lifespan of the missiles.

However, many industry analysts and former defense officials, led by William J. Perry, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense under the Clinton Administration in the 1990s, have actually questioned the rationale of spending billions of dollars in the development of a new Sentinel ICBM from scratch instead of upgrading the existing Minuteman IIIs given the significant vulnerability of ICBM silos to a potential first nuclear strike by an adversary, especially Russia whose heavy missiles with their relatively much heavier throw weights; will make them virtually sitting ducks as targets. Further, this creates an incentive for first-strike of these ICBMs for a potential adversary under the 'use them or lose them' operating doctrine, thereby, creating strategic instability across both sides. William Perry, in fact, has actually made the case for shifting to a nuclear-diad instead of the existing triad for nuclear weapons!

Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet SS-18 and SS-18M Satan liquid fuels-powered ICBMs had a cumulative throw weight of 6,500 megatons (yes that's true!) as against 3,300 megatons for the U.S. solid rocket motors-powered missiles which was a constant source of worry & concern for the U.S. defense planners throughout the Cold War owing to the relative asymmetry in force structure, capabilities and relative destructive potential across the arch-rivals!

For more on the reckless arch-rivalry between the two superpowers throughout the Cold War over nuclear weapons and strategic & tactical delivery systems, dangerous rhetoric, escalations & flashpoints, secret PsychOps and extreme operating ways; a quick read of "Playing with Fire of the Gods & Flying Matchsticks" available on Amazon.com, is highly recommended...