Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the US Air Force, completed a critical design review (CDR) for the Sentinel Launch Support System (LSS), paving the way for system build, test, and qualification phases. The team will construct the system in Roy and deploy it at Vandenberg Space Force Base, another major milestone for the Sentinel Weapon System.

Why it matters

• The LSS is a digital command and control infrastructure that is critical to support Sentinel test and operational launches throughout the life of the program.
• The system will become an enduring backbone for the program over its lifecycle, ensuring consistent performance and reliability.
• The team executed the CDR on time, moving from architecture to final build.

Expert Insight: Sarah Willoughby, vice president and general manager, strategic deterrent systems, Northrop Grumman: “The successful completion of the CDR means we can now build, test, and qualify the system that will ensure the US Air Force can reliably say, 'Go for launch.' By advancing the Sentinel program, we are addressing one of the nation's most critical deterrence missions, providing resilient and dependable capabilities to safeguard our country's future."

Go Deeper: The LSS CDR milestone is a significant progress achievement for the program as it transitions towards launch readiness. The advancements in software development and overall system integration are setting the stage for enhanced mission-critical capabilities.

By pioneering software development standards, Northrop Grumman is not only advancing the Sentinel program but also setting new paradigms in engineering excellence and team effectiveness.