The Pentagon will brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on keeping aging Minuteman III nuclear missiles active until the troubled Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program is deployed, according to a committee report.

A provision in the Senate’s fiscal 2026 defense authorization bill states that senators are concerned the Air Force is not ready to keep the Minuteman III operational.

The legislation passed recently by the panel requires the commander of the Global Strike Command to brief the committee no later than Dec. 31 on its plans for keeping Minuteman IIIs on duty until the new Sentinel is deployed.

The House version of the bill includes $3 billion for Sentinel, and the Senate version calls for spending $4.6 billion for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The Senate bill contains a separate provision that calls for the Air Force to set a target date for the initial deployment of the Sentinel and a prohibition on reducing the number of the new ICBMs below 400 missiles.

The required Sentinel briefing must identify critical component lifecycle sustainment activities for missile support equipment, ground infrastructure, command and control and flight systems, according to the defense authorization report.

The briefing also must address Global Strike Command’s ability to rapidly add additional warheads on the currently single-warhead Minuteman III if directed by the U.S. Strategic Command.

The potential addition of multiple warheads to the Minuteman III reflects growing concerns that strategic deterrence is being undermined by growing nuclear threats posed by China’s rapidly expanding cache of nuclear missiles.

Senators also want to know the Air Force’s plans for adding resources to address any nuclear missile shortfalls and whether any legislation is needed to reduce red tape for Minuteman III sustainment and warhead upload plans.

The Air Force reported to Congress in 2021 that all 400 Minuteman IIIs will be retired when the Sentinel program is fully operational in 2036.

However, last year, the Sentinel program triggered a critical cost overrun milestone known as the Nunn-McCurdy breach – legislation designed to prevent excessive defense spending.

The cost estimate for new Sentinel missiles through full deployment is between $125 billion and $141 billion. 

The ICBM program also faces significant delays that the report says likely will require the Air Force to continue operating the Minuteman IIIs, the sole land-based leg of the nuclear deterrent “far longer than planned.”

“Consequently, the committee is concerned about the Air Force’s ability to sustain the aging Minuteman III system through the transition to Sentinel,” the committee report said.

The Senate bill also would require the U.S. comptroller general to provide regular reviews to Congress on the operation and sustainment of the Minuteman III arsenal.

The current commander of the Global Strike Command is Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, who is moving on to be the next Air Force vice chief of staff.

Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, currently Air Force inspector general, has been nominated to be his replacement.

• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.