The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a USD 383 million (EUR 371 million) cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the company’s existing contract for development of the next generation of the Trident II Strategic Weapon System (SWS) D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Lockheed Martin announced on 31 January.
Under this contract modification Lockheed Martin will design the upgraded missile, known as the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2). The integrated, modernised missile will be carried aboard Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to ensure the US sea-based strategic deterrent remains credible through to 2084.
“The second life extension of the Trident D5 missile will enable the United States and United Kingdom, through the Polaris Sales Agreement, to maintain credibility deterring evolving threats,” Jerry Mamrol, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missiles at Lockheed Martin, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We are proud to continue our critical partnership with the US Navy to take deterrence into this new era.”
The D5 missile, built and upgraded by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy, is claimed by the company to be the most advanced ballistic missile in the world and is currently aboard US Navy Ohio-class and Royal Navy Vanguard-class SSBNs.
Lockheed Martin is breaking ground on an approximately 225,000 square foot (68,580 m2) facility in Titusville, Florida, to produce components for the D5LE2 SLBM. The facility is anticipated to be ready for operations in 2027 to meet the US Navy’s production needs and support the service for the next 60 years.
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