The Trident II nuclear missile, used since the end of the Cold War, will have its service life extended until 2084 through a $383 million contract between the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin.
The company will be responsible for modernizing the system, with planned improvements in areas such as navigation and control, though exact details have not been disclosed.
The new model, Trident II D5LE2, will start being used in 2040, with gradual replacement of the old missiles over a period of nine years.
The Trident II was developed to be one of the pillars of nuclear deterrence for the United States and the United Kingdom, with a range exceeding 12,000 kilometers and the ability to carry nuclear warheads independently. Currently, the missile is carried by 14 Ohio-class submarines of the U.S. Navy and four Vanguard-class submarines of the British Royal Navy. Each Ohio-class submarine can carry up to 24 missiles, while each Vanguard can carry up to 16.
With the modernization of the Trident II, the U.S. Ohio-class submarines will be replaced by Columbia-class submarines, and the UK Vanguard-class submarines will be replaced by Dreadnought-class submarines. The Trident II D5LE2 will be complemented by new models of nuclear warheads, such as the W93/Mk7 from the U.S. and Astraea from the UK.
The transition to the new submarines and missiles will occur gradually, in parallel with the updating and maintenance of the current stock.
Source: Olhar Digital | Photo: X @USNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team