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Nuclear ForcesUnited States

U.S. ICBM force

Nuclear force componentActivePending verification

Also known as: Minuteman III force, ICBM leg

Nuclear ForcesUSA
U.S. ICBM force
Photo: Tech. Sgt. Draeke Layman, U.S. Space Force / DVIDS · Public domain, DVIDS
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeNuclear force component
Alternative designationsMinuteman III force, ICBM leg
ProliferationOrigin country only
BasesF.E. Warren AFB (Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska); Minot AFB (North Dakota); Malmstrom AFB (Montana)Med[1]
Program statusLGM-35A Sentinel: 659 missiles planned, 400 deployed; initial operating capability planned FY29, may slip to FY33; first flight test planned before March 2028Med[1]
Warhead inventory
Warheads assigned800 warheadsUp to 800 warheads assigned, about half deployedMed[1]
Warheads deployed400 warheadsMed[1]
Delivery
Launchers400400 deployed missiles; 450 silos including 50 kept warmMed[1]
Delivery systemsLGM-30G Minuteman IIIMed[1]
Warhead typesW87-0/Mk21 (300 kt) or W78/Mk12A (335 kt), one per missileMed[1]
Summary

Land leg of the U.S. triad: 400 deployed Minuteman III missiles in silos at three Air Force bases, each with one warhead.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United States
Sources
  1. United States nuclear weapons, 2026, Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Notebook, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
    Published/updated 2026-03-01 · Tier 2 · checked 2026-11-08
Change log
  • 2026-11-08 Entry created from United States nuclear weapons, 2026 (FAS Nuclear Notebook)