How Many ICBM Silos Does the U.S. Have?

As of latest updates, the U.S. operates 400 operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. These silos are primarily located in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, housing the Minuteman III missiles. For the most current information, it is advisable to consult official defense sources or recent reports.

The Current ICBM Landscape

The number of ICBM silos has significantly decreased over the years. Historically, in the 1960s, the U.S. had over 1000 Minuteman I and II silos, 54 Titan II silos, and several hundred Atlas D, E, and F silos. Some of the latter remain in existence but are long since decommissioned.

Modern ICBM Silos

Today, the U.S. has 400 Minuteman III ICBM silos. Each missile is currently equipped with one warhead, as opposed to the three that were originally designed to carry. The Minuteman III silos serve as a significant component of the U.S. strategic arsenal and are subject to modernization programs to extend their service life until 2030.

U.S. Nuclear Inventory Breakdown

The U.S. nuclear inventory consists of a total of 5800 warheads, with approximately 3800 active warheads in stockpile and another 2000 retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Under the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the U.S. is allowed 1550 nuclear warheads on 800 strategic launchers, with only 700 deployed.

Air Force Capability

The U.S. Air Force operates a fleet of 20 B-2 bombers and 46 B-52 bombers. The B-2 bombers can carry 16 gravity bombs, while the B-52 bombers equip 20 cruise missiles each. These aircraft can also carry the B61 gravity bomb, making them dual-capable for carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.

Navy Submarine Capability

The U.S. Navy has 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Eight operate out of Bangor, Washington, and six out of Kings Bay, Georgia. Each submarine can carry up to 20 Trident II D5 missiles, with each Trident missile capable of carrying up to eight warheads but typically carrying four to five for an average of 90 warheads per submarine. The warheads are either the 90-kiloton W76-1 or the 455-kiloton W88. A small number of W76-2 low-yield warheads have also been deployed on some Ohio-class submarines.

Ground-Based Missile Systems

Land-based missile systems, primarily the Minuteman III ICBMs, make up the other significant portion of the U.S. strategic arsenal. Each ICBM is equipped with one warhead, either a W87 or W78. The Minuteman III missiles underwent a significant modernization program in 2015, extending their service life to 2030. The Air Force plans to replace the Minuteman IIIs with the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), a proposed program costing over $100 billion and consisting of 666 missiles, of which 400 will be deployed and 266 will be used for testing or as spares.

For comprehensive and up-to-date information on U.S. missile silos and nuclear arsenals, consult official defense documentation and recent reports.