Sentinel missile is said to cost 80% more than previously estimated

The U.S. Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile is expected to cost $141 billion, or about 80% more than estimated four years ago, Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

A recent review forecast that costs for the Sentinel may rise to as much as $214 million a missile when calculated in 2020 dollars, up from $118 million each. Pentagon officials are set to brief Congress on the matter next week.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) manages the program to replace the 1970s-era Minuteman with the Sentinel, a key part of modernizing the U.S. nuclear force and countering the growing arsenals of Russia and China.

The Sentinel’s Command and Launch segment that includes launch facilities and other ground infrastructure is a significant driver of the higher costs. The Pentagon is determining the long-term implications of the expenses, Bloomberg News reported.