ICBM Reentry Vehicles

Abstract

The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Reentry Vehicles (RVs) activity will design, develop, produce, and deploy advanced countermeasures and integrated RV systems capable of delivering the W87-1 warhead and future warheads when released from the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system. The Mk21A program will meet the requirements laid out in the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system Capability Development Document (CDD) as directed by Air Force Global Strike Command and will provide needed performance and security enhancements over the Mk21 RV to meet the upgraded requirements for the Department of Energy (DOE)/ National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) W87-1 warhead. The Mk21A RV includes: shape stable nose tip; high impulse transducer; arming and fuzing subsystem (AFS); aeroshell forward section, body section, and rear cover; radio frequency subsystem with antennas; RV spin subsystem; in-flight disconnect cable; and other electrical cables. The Next Generation Reentry Capabilities (NGRC) program will ensure the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system continues to meet CDD requirements in an evolving threat landscape by leveraging advanced technologies matured by the Research & Development (R&D) and ICBM Demonstration/Validation communities in support of the Air Force's Reentry Strategy. Future NGRC solutions will integrate Next Generation Reentry Vehicle (NGRV) with current and/or future warheads and includes acquisition of complementary advanced countermeasures, embracing the modular and adaptable tenets of the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2023 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2024 2.388M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. All FY 2024 civilian pay expenses will be executed on BPAC 675920 - Next Generation Reentry Capabilities. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2025
Source ID
0101328F_7_3600_PB_2025
Change Summary Explanation
FY25 decreased from the FY24 PB to the FY25 PB to better align Mk21A with the Sentinel program flight test requirements.
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Readers

  • Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
  • Missile Defense Systems.

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