ICBM Reentry Vehicles

The Mk21A Reentry Vehicle (RV) program will design, develop, produce, and deploy an integrated RV capable of delivering the W87-1 warhead when released from the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system. The Mk21A program 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, while ensuring the time certain delivery of both the W87-1 and Mk21A programs. The Mk21A will also meet the requirements laid out in the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system Capability Development Document (CDD) as directed by Air Force Global Strike Command. 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. During the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, the Mk21A program will include prime contractor development of a critical RV design, applicable support equipment, data, flight test hardware, infrastructure, and training materials while examining and mitigating weapon system integration risks, nuclear surety, hardness and certification, and system vulnerability assessments. Additionally, the program, in conjunction with the DOE/NNSA, will develop test assets to ensure the integration and qualification of the Mk21A and W87-1 on 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 program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F.

The Next Generation Reentry Vehicle (NGRV) program will design, develop, produce, and deploy new payload system suites (reentry vehicles and countermeasures) and integrate them into ICBM weapon systems. Key next generation payload attributes include enhancements in accuracy and lethality. NGRV and associated advanced countermeasure capabilities are based on emerging threats, warfighter priorities, and development capacity. Program activities will also include the employment of digital acquisitions through the application of digital engineering, agile software development, and open systems architectures. The NGRV program will leverage investments by the ICBM Demonstration/Validation program, the Science & Technology community, and Navy reentry systems application program. In FY2026 NGRV efforts were accomplished under BPAC 675920 Next Generation Reentry Capabilities. In FY2027 NGRV BPAC (675921) was created, providing further visibility and traceability. FY2027 funding supports early acquisition activities that lead to competitive contract awards for NGRV development. NGRV will develop digital models and perform early prototyping to prepare for acquisition activities and to strengthen the atrophied industrial base, posturing the nation to counter adversary threats both projected and unforeseen. This strategy enables a diverse pool of vendors to contribute to the development of materiel solutions, which support mission requirements that combat future and immediate threats to drive ultimate effectiveness requirements for the weapon system. This funding includes program management support, operational concept exploration, technology trade studies, operational and system architecture development, maturation and risk reduction of RV/countermeasure-related technologies, including weapons system and integrated system concept development/demonstration.

The Advanced Capabilities for Missile Enhancement (ACME) program supports enhancements to ICBM operations. More information is available at higher classification levels. In FY2026, BPAC 675920, Next Generation Reentry Capabilities (NGRC) encompassed efforts to design, develop, produce, and deploy new payload system suites (reentry vehicles and/or capabilities) In FY2027, BPAC 675920 was renamed Advanced Capability for Missile Enhancement (ACME) NGRC funding stayed within BPAC 675920. FY2027 continues to support the enabling functions of ACME to include but is not limited to Prime support and studies, engineering support, security support, direct program support costs and information technology. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.