Three U.S. Navy Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems–Missiles & Space Operations, were successfully launched in a test operation conducted yesterday evening from the USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) at the Eastern Test Range off the eastern Florida coast.

The missiles represented the 92nd, 93rd and 94th consecutive successful tests of the Trident II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile and continues the impressive string of successful test launches that began in December 1989.

The tests are part of a continuing series of operational evaluation tests conducted by the Navy to monitor the safety, reliability, readiness and performance of the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System (SWS).

“Achieving 94 consecutive successful test launches is truly a remarkable milestone,” said Tom Morton, vice president of Strategic Missile Programs at Missiles & Space in Sunnyvale.

“The Trident II D-5 missile – an important contributor to our national security – continues to demonstrate that it is the most successful missile system ever fielded. All of us at Lockheed Martin are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Navy and the D5’s impressive record of performance.”

Trident II D5 is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertial-guided submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is 44.5 ft in length, 83 inches in diameter, weighs 130,000 lbs., has a range greater than 4,000 nautical miles, and carries up to eight Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs).

Trident II D5, the sixth generation of FBMs developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy, is presently deployed in the Atlantic Ocean. The Navy plans to deploy the D5 missile system into the Pacific SSBN fleet over the next several years.

The Navy selected Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space as its prime missile contractor in 1955. Since then, the FBM team has produced the Polaris (A1), Polaris (A2), Polaris (A3), Poseidon (C3), Trident I (C4) and the Trident II (D5) missile.

The U.S. Navy has purchased 384 Trident II D5 missiles since initial production began in 1987.