![]() In January 2021, VADM Johnny Wolfe announced the Navy would start the Trident D5 Extension Life II upgrade this year. In June 2002, the Navy initiated the D5 Life Extension to replace aging missile parts and extend missile life from 30 to 44 years. However, Congress rejected funding for this program. In the mid-2000s, the Defense Department requested to deploy conventionally-armed Trident D5 missiles to satisfy requirements for its Conventional Prompt Global Strike capability. An extensive upgrade for 300 missiles is planned in 2020 in order to upgrade them to the Trident D-5A or D-5LE versions with improved capabilities and an extended service life to 2042. New third-stage propellant motors were developed and tested and will likely be included in future versions. Improved air-burst fuses were considered for the Mk 4 RV in 1998. More accurate GPS systems have been tested on Trident missiles since 1993 and an earth penetrator version was considered in 1994 to attack underground facilities. The Trident D5 has undergone extensive improvement programs. However, the Navy eventually shifted its emphasis from increasing range to improving accuracy as the Trident D5’s counterforce mission became a focal design point. The Trident D5 was originally intended to significantly increase range compared to the first-generation Trident I C4. The first test launch took place in January 1987 and the first sea trial, which was unsuccessful, occurred in March 1989. ![]() The Navy began developing the Trident D5 in March 1980. These programs, categorized as US Fleet Ballistic Missile technologies, began in the mid-1950s. It improved upon earlier SLBMs including the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident I C4. Navy’s latest generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
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