WSJ: US nuclear project significantly delayed

The Wall Street Journal has reported that refurbishing decades-old missile silos in the US will cost billions more than expected and may not begin for another five years. The Pentagon has decided to move forward with the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, despite costs nearly doubling from the initial estimate of $78 billion. The aging Minuteman III missiles must be replaced with no alternative, according to Pentagon officials.

Residents in Kimball, Nebraska, where one of the largest missile fields is located, were told that work on modernizing the existing silos for new missiles may not start for at least five years. The Sentinel project involves not only developing new missiles but also upgrading the 50-year-old silos and command centers, which requires laying thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic cables.

Although the project’s complexity is significant and has not been attempted in over 60 years, the US Air Force is seeking ways to streamline the process. However, delays in decision-making may pose challenges for the Pentagon, as costs continue to rise and initial estimates are deemed unreliable.

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