VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – Sept. 14, 2026 – America’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile moved another step closer to defending the nation when Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Air Force fully assembled the Sentinel missile in its operational orientation. The vertical assembly demonstrates the design and integration of the missile and is a major step toward the Sentinel missile’s design and suitability evaluation for flight test in 2027.