Hoeven: Defense Appropriations Builds on Minot Air Force Base’s $1 Billion Per Year Economic Impact

Hoeven: Defense Appropriations Builds on Minot Air Force Base's $1 Billion Per Year Economic Impact

Senator Provides Update on Nuclear Modernization with Major General Connor, Also Secures Commitment from Head of Sentinel Program General White to Visit Base

MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today provided an update on nuclear modernization efforts at Minot Air Force Base with Major General Colin Connor, Director of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Modernization, and Task Force 21. Hoeven outlined how the nuclear upgrades will build upon the nearly $1 billion in annual economic benefits the base currently brings to the Minot region. As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Hoeven secured the following priorities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding legislation to advance nuclear modernization:

• $2.6 billion for the development of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
  • This comes in addition to the $2.5 billion that Hoeven worked to secure for Sentinel in the One Big Beautiful Bill.
• More than $1 billion for development and procurement of the B-52 upgrades.
• Nearly $800 million for the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) development and procurement.
• $67 million for procurement of the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter.
  • This funding helps build out Minot's fleet of 11 aircraft, with the first Grey Wolf deliveries set to start in 2027.
  • Importantly, Hoeven highlighted that the base's new helicopter facility will be completed this year.
  • The senator secured nearly $140 million for the facility's construction, as well as flexibility to address cost increases due to inflation and keep the project on schedule.
  • These efforts ensured the facility would be ready in time for the aircraft's arrival in Minot.

Today's discussion builds on a recent meeting Hoeven held with Gen. Dale White, the head of the Air Force's Sentinel ICBM program, in Washington. During that meeting, Hoeven and White discussed strategies for accelerating the development of Sentinel, with the senator securing a commitment from White to visit Minot Air Force Base to see firsthand the existing missions and further review the ICBM program.

"The Minot Air Force Base is not only the sole dual-nuclear base in the country, but as we advance our nuclear modernization efforts, it will grow as an economic driver for the region, building on the base's nearly $1 billion in current economic impact," said Hoeven. "With the passage of the FY2026 Defense Appropriations bill, we are hitting key milestones in updating our nuclear forces, particularly with the procurement of the Grey Wolf helicopters, which will provide security for the missile fields. The new helicopter facility in Minot will be finished later this year, due to the $140 million we provided to move this construction project forward, and we continue to procure new helicopters to build out Minot's fleet, which will start arriving in Minot in 2027. On top of this, we continue to provide the resources needed to keep projects like Sentinel on track. I appreciate MG Connor for joining today's discussion and working with us to accelerate this critical initiative, and I look forward to hosting General White in Minot to keep making progress on this effort."

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