The US defence giant has received a $540 million contract for Trident ‘missile production and deployed system support’.
The contract supports production efforts for the US Navy and the Royal Navy. The Trident II is currently equipped on the US Navy’s Ohio class submarines as well as the Royal Navy’s Vanguard class submarines. The missile will also equip the UK’s new Dreadnought class submarines.
According to the US Department of Defense:
“Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded $540,834,051 for fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00008 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-16-C-0100) for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed system support.
Work is expected to be completed September 30th, 2021.
Fiscal 2017 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $453,981,651; United Kingdom funds in the amount of $50,714,400; and fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $36,138,000 are being obligated on this award, $36,138,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.”
The UGM-133A Trident II is a submarine-launched ballistic missile and was first deployed in March 1990.
The Trident missile system is housed on the UK’s four Vanguard class submarines which form the UK’s strategic nuclear missile force. Each of the four boats are armed with up to 16 Trident II D5 SLBMs, carrying up to 8 warheads each.
The Royal Navy has operated the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent since 1967 when the first SSBN – or Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear – HMS Resolution began patrolling armed with the Polaris missile system.
In 1996 HMS Vanguard, the first submarine armed with the Trident missile system, arrived on the Clyde and took over deterrent patrol duties from the Resolution Class. The four Vanguard-class submarines form the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent force.
Pretty sure the RN started Polaris patrols in 1969, not 1967. ‘Dreadnought’, not ‘Dreadnaught’.
‘Each of the four boats are armed with up to 16 Trident II D5 SLBMs, carrying up to 8 warheads each’
They carry a maximum of 3 per missile.