The US Navy's third-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system, following on from the earlier Polaris and Poseidon missiles. The first version, Trident C-4, became operational in 1980. The larger Trident D-5 was tested with the US Navy in 1989, and entered service with the British Royal Navy in the mid-1990s. The missile has a very long range (11 000 km/7000 mi), and carries up to 14 individually targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). A stellar-inertial navigation system gives it accuracy equivalent to its land-based counterparts, even though it is launched from a moving platform.
Trident II| Type | SLBM |
|---|---|
| Range | up to 12000 km |
| Warheads | up to Eight W76/W88 |
| Yield | Up to 3.8 megatons |
| Propulsion | three stage solid propellant |
| Guidance system | inertial, with stellar sensor update |
| CEP | 90 metres |
| Max speed | 29,030 km/h (18,000 mph) |
| Length | 44 ft (13.41 m) |
| Diameter | 83 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 58,500 kg (130,000 lb) |
| Payload | 2,800 kg (6,170 lb) |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space Systems |
| Unit cost | $30.9 million |
| In service | 1990 |
| States |
United Kingdom United States |
The Trident missile, named after the trident, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile or SLBM which is armed with nuclear warheads and is launched from SSBNs, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The missiles are ejected from their tubes by gas pressure created by a "gas generator", a solid-fuel rocket motor attached to the bottom of the missile tube which heats a pool of water creating steam.
Trident I (C4) UGM-96A
The first eight Ohio-class subs were built with the Trident I missiles.
Characteristics
Purpose: strategic nuclear deterrence Contractor: Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California Propulsion: three stage solid propellant Length: 34 ft (10.2 m) Weight: 73,000 lb (33,142 kg) Diameter: 74 in (1.8 m) Range: 7400 km (4,600 statute miles) Guidance system: inertial, with stellar sensor update CEP: 1250 ft (380 m) Warhead: nuclear multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV).Characteristics
Purpose: strategic nuclear deterrence Contractor: Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California Unit Cost: $30.9 million Propulsion: three stage solid propellant Length: 44 ft (13.41 m) Weight: 130,000 lb (58,500 kg) Diameter: 83 in (2.11 m) Range: 12000 km (7,500 statute miles) Maximum speed: 29,030 km/h (18,000 mph) Guidance system: inertial, with stellar sensor update CEP: 300 ft (90 m) Warhead (in USA usage only): nuclear MIRV. Date deployed: 1990Conventional Trident
The Pentagon proposed the Conventional Trident Modification program in 2006 to diversify its strategic options, as part of a broader long-term strategy to develop worldwide rapid strike capabilities, dubbed "Prompt Global Strike".
The US $503 million program would have converted existing Trident II missiles (presumably two missiles per submarine) into conventional weapons, by fitting them with modified Mk4 reentry vehicles equipped with GPS for navigation update and a reentry guidance and control (trajectory correction) segment to perform 10m class impact accuracy.
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