Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 127 successful test flights

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Royal Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Launched in Test in the Atlantic 127 Successful Test Flights
UNITED STATES - 30 JULY 2009

Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 127 Consecutive Successful Test Flights since 1989 – a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 30th, 2009 -- The U.S. Navy supported the May 26 launch of a U.K. Royal Navy Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). The unarmed missile was launched from the submerged Royal Navy submarine HMS Victorious (UK SSBN 06) in the Atlantic Ocean. The Trident II D5 missile now has achieved 127 consecutive successful test flights since 1989 – a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

“This performance has been achieved in tests conducted by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy over the past two decades,” said Melanie A. Sloane, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missile programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, the Trident missile prime contractor. “The cooperation of both governments, supported by industry, provides a credible strategic deterrent.”

The test was part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation following an overhaul of the submarine. For the test, a missile was converted into a test configuration using a test missile kit produced by Lockheed Martin that contains range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard U.S. Navy OHIO-class and Royal Navy VANGUARD-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor and program manager for the Trident missile. Lockheed Martin provides program management and engineering services for the United Kingdom’s Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile program through an annual contract funded by the U.K. Royal Navy, with work performed at facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. For the period from April 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010, Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract of $21.3 million contract for United Kingdom technical services in support of the Trident Missile System.

Source: Lockheed Martin


The US Navy gives the range as 'greater than 7,360km' but this could be up to 12,000km depending on the payload mix.
Trident II is a three-stage solid propellant missile with supersonic speed. Missile guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system, supported by stellar navigation.

Trident II is capable of carrying up to 12 MIRVs (multiple independent re-entry vehicles), although the SALT treaty limits this number to eight a missile.

Archive photo: Trident II D5 Intercontinental Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). (U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal Navy)

 

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Victorious contract completed with successful missile firing
13 AUGUST 2009

The successful completion of Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) firing of an unarmed Trident missile by HMS Victorious off the coast of Florida in May has marked the completion of Babcock’s Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) contract which, exceptionally, encompassed extended support up to the DASO trials.

Traditionally the LOP(R) contract would end when the submarine leaves Devonport for sea trials (as was the case with HMS Vanguard) but, as Babcock also has responsibility for upkeep and in-service support, the HMS Victorious’s LOP(R) contract was extended to provide additional support running up to DASO missile firing.

Following Victorious’s departure from Devonport in July last year, Babcock provided on-going support to the post-LOP(R) trials at sea and alongside in Scotland. This included Strategic Weapons Systems (SWS) operations in Coulport, and dived sea trials to prove correct operation of all systems (propulsion, reactor, ship, and tactical and strategic weapons systems) down to the submarine’s deep diving depth, leading up to Fleet Date in October last year.

Subsequently, Babcock provided further support to complete SWS operation sequence testing (including functional testing of each missile tube), which culminated in a successful SWS Final Weapons Inspections as part of the UK-based DASO preparations.

In parallel with the post-LOP(R) trials and DASO preparations, Babcock completed two Base Maintenance Periods at the Clyde Submarine Base in Faslane to programme, including additional work packages to ensure platform reliability through the DASO programme.

Babcock SSBN programme director Gavin Leckie comments: “This has been the first LOP(R) to be completed under Babcock management (following Babcock’s acquisition of DML in 2007) which has allowed the joint Devonport and Faslane team to focus on total delivery to the end customer, Navy Command. Babcock recognised the strategic importance of delivering HMS Victorious back into the Deterrence Patrol Cycle and, with the barriers between upkeep and in-service periods removed, we were able to provide enhanced support to ensure that the DASO programme was met.”

Babcock is now eight months into the new-style LOP(R) contract on HMS Vigilant, currently underway at Devonport, and will be working with the project delivery team with a view to extending the focus beyond sea trials to the DASO programme, on a similar basis.


Source: Babcock