Comment: See accompanying photo below to this article showing corrosion of the silo. This does not bode well. Second post is an AI query result on what is a Milestone B decision. The Sentinel Program ran aground with a fouled Milestone B that had to be rescinded.
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/air-force-general-pledges-to-get-sentinel-done-expects--b-in-2027/
By Michael Marrow on September 23, 2025 1:30 pm
Quote:
AFA 2025 — An ongoing restructuring of the Sentinel ICBM program is expected to culminate in a new Milestone B decision by mid-2027, a key metric for a troubled program that Brig. Gen. William Rogers said today he has “every intention” of having fully operational before 2050.
“We’ll get Sentinel done, I am confident, before we would be ready to start fielding” a service life extension for the Minuteman III missiles that Sentinel is meant to replace, Rogers said in an interview with Breaking Defense and another outlet on the sidelines of the Air and Space Forces Association conference here.
The Government Accountability Office recently found the MMIII fleet could operate until 2050, but Rogers said Air Force officials were primarily trying to determine exactly how long the legacy missiles could last.
An unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III sits inside the silo of U-01 at
F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, July 9, 2025.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond)
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A Milestone B decision in defense procurement is a formal review that determines whether a program can proceed from the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. It marks the official start of the program and requires the approval of the Milestone Decision Authority based on specific criteria and assessments.
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Defense Acquisition University
Overview of Milestone B Decision
Milestone B is a critical point in the defense procurement process. It marks the transition from the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of a major defense acquisition program.
Purpose of Milestone B
The main goal of the Milestone B decision is to evaluate whether a program has met specific exit criteria from the TMRR phase. This decision allows the program to proceed into the EMD phase, where detailed design and development occur.
Key Requirements for Milestone B Approval
To achieve Milestone B approval, several key documents and analyses must be completed:
| REQUIREMENT |
DESCRIPTION |
| Approved Capabilities Design Document |
A document outlining the capabilities the system must achieve. |
| Acquisition Strategy |
A plan detailing how the program will be acquired and managed. |
| Benefits Analysis and Determination |
An analysis of the expected benefits of the program. |
| Competition Analysis |
An assessment of the competitive landscape for the program. |
| Supportability Analysis |
An evaluation of how the system will be supported throughout its lifecycle. |
| Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) |
A comprehensive plan for testing and evaluating the system. |
| Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Quantities |
Determination of the quantities for initial production. |
Importance of Milestone B
Milestone B is essential for ensuring that a program is ready to move forward with development. It helps to mitigate risks and ensures that the necessary planning and analysis have been conducted before significant resources are committed.
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