"Pentagon Review Triggered as US Minuteman III Missile Replacement Exceeds $96 Billion Budget"
The replacement for the Minuteman III nuclear arsenal, managed by Northrop Grumman Corp, has exceeded its $95.8 billion budget due to pandemic-related costs and inflation, with the total program cost now estimated above $131 billion. The Pentagon is conducting a review, triggered by the cost overrun, to justify the program's importance. The modernization program, named Sentinel, includes upgrading 450 missile silos and their command infrastructure, and purchasing trucks, training, command buildings, and 659 missiles. Despite the cost overruns, the program is deemed necessary for the future of the US nuclear deterrent.