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Submarine Weapon System
UGM-133A Trident II D5  /  UGM-96 Trident I C4
 Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile - SLBM
 

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn lockheed martin 11x
 
11/25
The UGM-133A Trident II, or Trident D5
 
... is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space in Sunnyvale, California, and deployed with the United States Navy and Royal Navy. 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 and strengthens U.S. strategic deterrence. The Trident II is considered to be a durable sea-based system capable of engaging many targets. It has payload flexibility that can accommodate various treaty requirements, such as New START. The Trident II's increased payload allows nuclear deterrence to be accomplished with fewer submarines, and its high accuracy - approaching that of land-based missiles - enables it to be used as a first strike weapon.

Trident II missiles are carried by 14 US Ohio class SSBN's and 4 British Vanguard class submarines, with 20 missiles on each Ohio class and 16 missiles on each Vanguard class (the number of missiles on Ohio-class submarines was reduced from 24 to 20 by 2017), in compliance with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). There have been 215 total test launches of the D5, with 207 successes. 196 launches were from the sea: 191 successes and 5 failures. 181 of the successes and 3 of the failures were by the US, while 10 of the successes and 2 of the failures were by the UK. 19 launches were from land, all by the US, with 16 successes and 3 failures. the most recent successful launch from USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) on 27 September 2023. There have been 8 test flights that were failures, the most recent being from HMS Vanguard (S 28) off the coast of Florida in January 2024. The D5 is the sixth in a series of missile generations deployed since the sea-based deterrent program began 60 years ago. The Trident D5LE (life-extension) version will remain in service until 2042.

UGM-133A Trident II / D5
Mass: 130,000 lb (58,500 kg)
Length: 44 ft 6.6 in (13.579 m)
Diameter: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) (1st stage)

Warhead:
United States
1-8 Mk-5 MIRV/W88 (475 kt) or
1-12 Mk-4 MIRV/W76-0 (100 kt) or
1-12 Mk-4A MIRV/W-76-1 (90 kt) or
Mk-7 MIRV/W93 (planned)
Single or multiple W76-2 (5-7 kt)

United Kingdom
Mk-4A MIRV/Holbrook (100 kt)
Mk-7 MIRV/A21 Astraea (planned)

MIRV: Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles
A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is an exoatmospheric ballistic missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit a different target. The concept is almost invariably associated with intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying thermonuclear warheads, even if not strictly being limited to them.

Engine:
Three solid-fuel rocket motors; first & second stage - Thiokol/Hercules solid-fueled rocket; third stage - United Technologies Corp. solid-fueled rocket

Propellant: NEPE-75 - Nitrate ester, plasticized polyethylene glycol-bound HMX, aluminum, ammonium perchlorate
Operational range: Full load (8x Mk5/W88): 4,100 nmi (4,700 mi; 7,600 km) / Reduced load (4x Mk5/W88): 6,220 nmi (7,160 mi; 11,520 km)

Maximum speed: Approximately 18,030 mph (29,020 km/h) (Mach 24; 8,060 m/s) (terminal phase)
Guidance system: Mk 6 astro-inertial guidance
Steering system: Single movable nozzle actuated by a gas generator
Accuracy: 100 m

Current and future platforms:

US Navy:
Ohio class SSBN
Columbia class SSBN

Royal Navy:
Vanguard class SSBN
Dreadnought class SSBN

- - - - -

Lockheed Martin press release - January 31, 2025:
The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $383 million cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the existing Lockheed Martin contract for development of the next generation of the Trident II Strategic Weapons System (SWS) D5 missile to continue the nation's sea-based strategic deterrence.

Under this contract modification, Lockheed Martin will design the upgraded missile, called the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2). The integrated, modernized missile will be carried aboard COLUMBIA class ballistic missile submarines to ensure the strategic weapon system remains credible through 2084.

US Navy Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, in charge of overall submarine weapons systems procurement, expected the first D5LE2 missiles to be deployed aboard the ninth Columbia class submarine by FY 2039.

- - - - -

US Navy press release - September 23, 2025:
ATLANTIC OCEAN - The U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs conducted four scheduled missile test flights of unarmed Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missiles from an Ohio class ballistic missile submarine off the east coast of Florida from September 17-21. One launch test event Sunday evening lit up the night sky and was visible from Puerto Rico.

Flight tests are conducted on a recurring, scheduled basis to evaluate and ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of the system. The missile tests were not conducted in response to any ongoing world events.

These test flights were part of a planned test event and resulted in the achievement of 197 total successful missile flight test launches of the Trident II D5 strategic weapon system. The test flights were launched from a submerged SSBN and landed in a broad ocean area of the Atlantic Ocean. As part of standard safety requirements, Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) were issued identifying no-fly zones and Notice to Mariners (NOTMARs) were issued to sea-going vessels identifying stay-out areas for the pre-scheduled test period.

The Trident II D5 strategic weapon system is a highly accurate and reliable weapon system. The D5 missiles were originally developed in the 1980s, and a life-extension refresh was completed in 2017 to extend the service life of the system to the 2040s.


Predecessor:

The UGM-96 Trident I, or Trident C4
 
... was an American submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California. First deployed in 1979, the Trident I replaced the Poseidon missile. The Trident was intended to have longer range than the Poseidon, allowing the fleet to maintain a longer distance from the target, enhancing survivability. It was retired in 2005, having been replaced by the Trident II.

The missile was a three-stage, solid-fueled system, capable of carrying up to eight W76 warheads in the Mark 4 RB.

Twelve James Madison class and Benjamin Franklin class SSBN's were retrofitted with Trident I missiles, which replaced older Poseidon missiles. The first eight Ohio class submarines were armed with Trident I missiles. The Ohio-class submarines were designed for the Trident II missiles, but used Trident I missiles until the Trident II missiles became available.

In 1980, the Royal Navy requested Trident I missiles under the Polaris Sales Agreement. In 1982, the agreement was changed to supply Trident II instead.

In service: 1979-2005
Mass: 74,630 pounds (33,850 kg)
Length: 34.1 feet (10.39 m)
Diameter: 74 inches (1.88 m)
Warhead: up to eight W76 warheads in Mark 4 RBs with a yield of 100 kilotonnes of TNT (420 TJ) each.
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range: 4,600 miles (7,400 km)
Guidance system: Astro-inertial guidance
Accuracy: 229-500 m
 
  
 
images

UGM-133A Trident II / D5 SLBM - UGM-133A Trident II D5LE (D5 Life Extension)
ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 07
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missile was launched from an Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine / SSBN - off Florida - September 2025

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 06
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missile was launched from an Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine / SSBN - off Florida - September 2025

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 04
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 missile was launched from the Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) - off California - March 2018

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 05
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 missile was launched from the Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) - off California - March 2018

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 03
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 missile was launched from the Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) - off Florida - August 2016

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 09
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 missile was launched from an Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 02
an UGM-133A Trident II D5 ballistic missile was launched from a Royal Navy Vanguard class Ballistic Missile Submarine / SSBN

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 10



UGM-96 Trident C4 Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile - SLBM

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 07
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile was launched - 1984

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 06
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile was launched from USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) - 1984

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 10
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile was launched from USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655) - 1984

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 05
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile was launched from USS Florida (SSBN 728) - 1983

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 03
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile was launched from USS Ohio (SSBN 726) - 1982

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio mirv 09
A montage of seven views showing parts of the launching of a Trident I C4 missile from the submerged USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657)
and the Trident's re-entry bodies as they plunge into the earth's atmosphere and then into the Atlantic Ocean - February 10, 1981

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 04
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile - 1978

ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 08
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile - first launch - Cape Canaveral, Florida -  January 18, 1977



ugm-96 trident i c4 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm james madison class ssbn benjamin franklin ohio 02
UGM-96 Trident I C4 Ballistic Missile onload to USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657) - 1981


ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn 08
24 launching tubes for Trident SLBM's aboard an Ohio class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)


Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)
ballistic missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit a different target

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn mirv 03

ugm-133a trident ii d5 submarine-launched ballistic missile slbm ohio columbia class ssbn mirv warhead 02
 
 
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