A nuclear submarine from the United States or the United Kingdom conducted an unannounced test launch of the Trident-II D5 intercontinental ballistic missile, which can carry nuclear warheads, toward the South Atlantic Ocean.
The video of the launch was published by WAPA-TV’s chief meteorologist, Ada Monson, and quickly gained traction on social media.
+ Ukrainian intelligence releases footage of attack on Russian Mi-8 helicopters
Confirmation and location
Expert Dr. Marco Langbroek confirmed the test after releasing a navigation warning that indicated the launch area and trajectory. According to him, the missile was fired near the coordinates 28.5667, -76.4833, passing close to Puerto Rico, where local residents could observe the rocket’s distinctive glow — an effect caused by molecular ionization at high altitudes.
So far, it has not been officially identified from which submarine the launch originated. The Trident-II D5 missile is in service with both the U.S. Navy and the U.K. Royal Navy as part of their nuclear deterrence forces.
Based on footage I just received taken from Puerto Rico, this #Trident SLBM test launch happened on 21 Sept at about 23:25 UTC. Below is a framestack (imagery courtesy Eddie Irizarry)@planet4589 @nukestrat @Etienne_Marcuz @vanessavollmer pic.twitter.com/4YkKwbsPvZ
— Dr Marco Langbroek (@Marco_Langbroek) September 22, 2025
Possible geopolitical message
Analysts suggest the launch may also have served as a show of force against Venezuela, a country that maintains tense relations with Washington due to U.S. anti-narcotics operations in the region and the deployment of missile destroyers in the Caribbean.
In addition to surface forces, the U.S. has deployed a nuclear submarine in the area — with no confirmation of type or class — which may be directly linked to the launch.
Context and reactions
Such missile launches are rare. The last documented test took place in September 2023, when the Ohio-class submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) successfully carried out a launch as part of the Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO-32) program.
In response to the U.S. military presence, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro recently announced the mobilization of popular militias, reinforcing the tense climate in the region.
Source and images: Militarnyi | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
