Two Trident Missiles Launched During Test In Atlantic

Two Trident II D-5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles were fired in a Navy test in the Atlantic Range, Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] announced.

Lockheed is the prime contractor for the Trident.

The Navy launched the unarmed missiles from USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) in the Eastern Range in the Atlantic Ocean

With this two-missile follow-on commander evaluation test, the Trident II D5 missile has achieved 119 consecutive successful test launches since 1989, a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle, according to Lockheed.

The launches are part of a continuing series of operational system evaluation tests conducted by the Navy to assure Trident II D5 strategic weapon system safety, reliability, readiness and performance. That is required by testing guidelines of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

A new test missile kit design was used for the first time in the test.

Lockheed kits convert operational missiles into test configurations and contain range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard 12 Trident II Ohio-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 stated.