The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $383 million contract to develop the next generation Trident II Strategic Weapons System (SWS) D5 missile to continue the U.S. strategic deterrent at sea.
Under this amendment to an existing contract, Lockheed Martin will develop the upgraded missile, called Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2), the company writes. The integrated, modernized missile will be carried aboard the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines to keep the strategic weapon system in service until 2084, according to a statement from Lockheed Martin.
"The second life extension of the Trident D5 missile will enable the United States and the United Kingdom to maintain their credibility in deterring evolving threats under the Polaris Distribution Agreement," Jerry Mamrol, Vice President of Fleet Ballistic Missiles at Lockheed Martin, is quoted as saying in the statement
The D5 missile, built and modernized by Lockheed Martin for the Navy, is reportedly the most advanced ballistic missile in the world and is currently aboard the Ohio-class submarines of the United States and the Vanguard-class submarines of the United Kingdom. This year, Lockheed Martin is celebrating 70 years of supporting the Navy in the development and maintenance of missiles that form the backbone of U.S. sea-based deterrence through the company's Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) program.
Lockheed Martin is also beginning construction of an approximately 21,000-square-foot facility in Titusville, Florida, to manufacture components for the D5LE2 submarine-launched ballistic missile. The new facility will expand Lockheed Martin's presence on Florida's Space Coast and is expected to create approximately 300 highly skilled new jobs, according to the company. The facility is expected to be operational in 2027 to meet the Navy's production needs and support the service for the next 60 years, according to the statement.
