Navy Submarine Launches Lockheed-Built Ballistic Missile to Certify Crew, Weapon System

A U.S. Navy submarine has launched a Lockheed Martin-built unarmed ballistic missile unit in the Atlantic Ocean for a flight test in August as part of a demonstration and shakedown operation.

Lockheed said Tuesday the Trident II D5 fleet ballistic missile flight test during DASO-27 worked to certify the USS Maryland submarine’s crew and weapon system to perform strategic outload and patrol.

The company noted it has modified the missile into a test configuration comprised of range safety devices, flight telemetry instrumentation and tracking systems.

Eric Scherff, vice president of the fleet ballistic missile program at Lockheed, said the Trident II D5 industry team seeks to utilize a shared flight test plan in support of the Navy’s strategic deterrence mission.

The Navy’s Ohio-class submarines and the U.K. navy’s Vanguard-class submarines both use the Trident II D5 missile.