Lockheed Martin Space Systems is being awarded a modification to a previously awarded contract for Trident II (D5) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) deployed system support.
The cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification, worth around $71.6 million, was awarded by U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) located in Washington, DC.
UGM-133A Trident II, or Trident D5 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California, and deployed with the American and British navies.
It was first deployed in March 1990, and remains in service. The Trident II Strategic Weapons System is an improved SLBM with greater accuracy, payload, and range than the earlier Trident C-4. It is a key element of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad.
The missile has a range of 4,230 nautical miles (7,840 km) with full load and approx. 7,500 mi (12,000 km)
with reduced load (exact is classified) with a speculated circular error probable (CEP) of 90 metres (300 ft)
The missile is guided with the MK 6 Astro-inertial guidance navigation system which is able to receive GPS (Global Positioning System) updates.
Trident II missiles are carried by 14 U.S Navy Ohio-class and 4 British Royal Navy Vanguard-class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN)
