Northrop Grumman has published the first official photographs of the front section of the new LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. The images show the missile after successful acoustic testing, which evaluates the guidance system and warhead's resistance to the intense vibrations and pressure from underground silo launches. The Sentinel is slated to enter flight testing in 2027 and will eventually replace the Minuteman III missiles that have formed the core of the U.S. land‑based nuclear deterrent since the 1970s. The U.S. Air Force plans to deploy about 400 Sentinel missiles in refurbished silos to maintain its triad for decades to come.