The Air Force broke ground on its largest military construction project on Aug. 17, 2026, at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc in support of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program.
The event marked the start of construction for a new, more than 170,000-sq.-ft. facility to support the Second Air Force and Air Education and Training Command's Sentinel ICBM Formal Training Unit.
Once complete, the FTU will serve as the instructional hub for the United States' next generation of land-based nuclear deterrence, providing initial skills training for missile operators and advanced technical curriculum for missile maintainers as they transition to the Sentinel weapon system.
Korte Construction received a $114 million contract to serve as contractor.
Speaking on behalf of the Vandenberg-based Sentinel Task Force Detachment 9, Lt. Col. Suzy Lamar said this milestone is a critical step in modernizing the nation's nuclear triad.
“This groundbreaking milestone is a visible testament to the continued momentum behind the Sentinel program,” said Lamar, the detachment's commander. “Our task force is sharply focused on ensuring a seamless, coordinated site transition from the Minuteman III to Sentinel, and capitalizing on the physical progress we see here today is essential to making that operational shift a reality.”
Managing the Sentinel ICBM transition and integration efforts falls to the Sentinel Task Force, which was activated at Vandenberg on March 6, 2025. The task force is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the daily activities for local transition planning to deactivate legacy Minuteman III operational sites while deploying the Sentinel weapon system in an efficient and timely manner.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together military, industry and local civic leaders, alongside representatives from state and federal congressional offices, to commemorate the project's kickoff and highlight the strong community partnership driving the Sentinel mission forward.
The facility, slated to open in the early 2030s, aims to streamline future ICBM training through the integration of student instruction and lab curriculums. Through this consolidation, the Air Force plans to increase instructional collaboration while maximizing overall training efficiency to support ICBM training.
By consolidating operations and maintenance training under one roof, the new facility will eliminate student transit times and spark daily collaboration between instructors and students, said Lt. Col. Luke Oman, 532nd Training Squadron commander.
“This highly digital, modernized infrastructure ensures that Second Air Force is delivering combat-ready airmen who are fully prepared to operate and maintain the Sentinel system on day one,” he said. â£
