The U.S. Navy has successfully carried out four launches of unarmed Trident II D5 missiles.

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

The tests took place from 17 to 21 September, when an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine launched the missiles from a submerged position off the Florida coast into the Atlantic.

The launches marked the 197th consecutive successful test flight of the Trident II system. One evening firing lit up the skies and was visible as far away as Puerto Rico. Notices to Mariners and Airmen were issued in advance, establishing safety zones across the missile range.

“Our Nation’s submarine launched ballistic missile system has been a critical component of our national security since the 1960s, and these launches continue to demonstrate the credibility and reliability of our strategic deterrence capabilities,” said Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe, Director of the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP).

The Trident II has been in service since 1990 with both the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy, providing the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad. Developed by Lockheed Martin Space, the three-stage, solid-fuel missile is among the most powerful strategic weapons ever fielded. It has an estimated range exceeding 7,500 miles, travels at speeds of up to Mach 24, and can deliver multiple independently targetable warheads with an accuracy of around 100 metres.

The weapon can be fitted with a range of warheads, from the W88 with a yield of 475 kilotons to the smaller W76-2 low-yield option, with the British Holbrook variant used on the UK’s Vanguard-class submarines. A planned W93/Astraea warhead will extend the system’s future.

Originally fielded in the 1980s, the Trident II underwent a life-extension programme in 2017, extending its service life into the 2040s. Wolfe highlighted both the continuity and the forward-looking aspect of the programme. “For the dedicated SSP team, maintaining our current capability and actively demonstrating through flight testing that the system is ready to respond if called upon is central to ensuring our nation’s Peace through Strength. The team is also pushing ahead developing the next generation strategic weapon system to ensure the sea-based deterrence capability of tomorrow,” he said.

The U.S. Navy stressed that the tests were routine and unrelated to ongoing world events. Nonetheless, the launches underline the enduring importance of the U.S. and UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent, with the Trident II remaining at the core of NATO’s nuclear posture.