The effort to replace the Minuteman III has gone so badly that the Air Force is now considering operating the already-half-century-old ICBM until 2050, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

“The Air Force reported to Congress in 2021 that Minuteman III would reach the end of its service life in 2036. Now, facing delays to Sentinel, the Air Force is evaluating options to continue operating Minuteman III through 2050,” said the report , which was released Wednesday. “The Minuteman III Program Office concluded that operation of Minuteman III until 2050 is feasible.”

Sentinel is the Air Force’s effort to replace the LGM-30G Minuteman III , first deployed in 1970. Last year, the Pentagon announced that the projected cost of the program had grown to $140.9

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