With a launch off the coast of California, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy last week demonstrated success in their final planned test of the submarine-fired Trident II D5 Life Extension Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM).
“We are proud of Lockheed Martin’s nearly seven decades of partnership with the U.S. Navy to develop advanced weapon capabilities to deter threats to our nation and allies,” said Jerry Mamrol, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missiles at Lockheed Martin. “As the Navy turns towards the future of sea-based strategic deterrence, our new generation of engineers and technicians are poised to meet the challenges of this next era. Lockheed Martin is already preparing and modernizing the missile for its future launch platform, COLUMBIA-class submarines.”
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation-32, or DASO-32 for short, marked the 191st successful test launch of the Trident FBM since it was first designed in 1989. To date, it hosts the most reliable test record for a large ballistic missile. Such tests are used to collect data on missile performance through a test missile kit, also produced by Lockheed Martin.
The D5 missile is currently hosted aboard U.S. OHIO-class and UK VANGUARD-class submarines. Consisting of three stages, the missile can travel approximately 4,000 miles. Initial fleet introduction of the D5LE occurred in 2017.
The Navy reported that the test showed the readiness of the crew and strategic weapon system aboard its submarine U.S.S. Louisiana and, as a result, certified the crew for strategic patrol.