The Navy launched two Trident II D-5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles in the Pacific Ocean, making a total of 122 consecutive successful tests of the weapon in 19 years, Lockheed Martin [LMT] said.
Those missiles were launched from the submerged USS Nebraska (SSBN 739).
That string of 122 launches is unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle, according to Lockheed Martin.
The Navy launched the missiles as part of a Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test, in a continuing series of operational system evaluation tests to assure the safety, reliability, readiness and performance of the ballistic missiles.
This is required by the Department of Defense National Command Authority. Tests are conducted under Joint Chiefs of Staff guidelines.
For the tests, operational missiles are converted into inert configurations using test missile kits produced by Lockheed Martin that contain range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.
First deployed in 1990, the D-5 missile currently is embarked aboard Trident II Ohio-class submarines and British Trident II 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, or MIRVs.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor and program manager for the Trident missile. Lockheed Martin has been the prime strategic Navy missile contractor since inception of the program more than 50 years ago.
The test also involved the Lockheed Martin-integrated navigation subsystem that provides navigation data to support Trident performance requirements. Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors Undersea Systems at Mitchel Field, N.Y., has been the prime contractor for the navigation subsystem aboard fleet ballistic missile submarines since 1955.