Lockheed Martin Wins Major U.S. Navy Contract to Advance Trident II Missile Program

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $647 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to continue production and sustainment work on the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The deal, which could rise to $745 million if all options are exercised, reinforces the company’s decades-long role as the principal contractor for one of the most critical components of America’s nuclear deterrent.

The new agreement will fund manufacturing, engineering, and support activities at multiple U.S. facilities, including Utah, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Washington, with work scheduled to run through September 2030. This follows a series of Navy awards earlier in 2024 that focused on extending the missile’s operational life and preparing the system for deployment on the next generation of ballistic missile submarines.

Backbone of U.S. and UK Nuclear Forces

The Trident II D5 is central to the strategic deterrence posture of both the United States and the United Kingdom. It is currently deployed on Ohio-class submarines in the U.S. fleet and Vanguard-class submarines operated by the Royal Navy under the Polaris Sales Agreement, a longstanding defense partnership between Washington and London. Each Ohio-class submarine can carry up to 20 Trident II missiles, each capable of delivering multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).

The missile is designed to provide survivable second-strike capability. Unlike land-based systems, which could be vulnerable to a pre-emptive attack, submarine-launched weapons remain hidden and mobile, making them the most reliable leg of the nuclear triad—alongside land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and strategic bombers.

Proven Performance and Modernisation

First deployed in 1990, the three-stage, solid-fuel Trident II D5 has demonstrated exceptional reliability and accuracy over more than three decades of service. The missile can travel over 4,000 nautical miles and deliver a range of warheads, including the W76 Mk4/Mk4A and W88 Mk5 variants.

To ensure long-term viability, the D5 Life Extension (D5LE) program was launched in 2017. These modernised missiles are designed to remain in service well into the middle of the century, supporting both the U.S. Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines and the Royal Navy’s forthcoming Dreadnought-class submarines. The upgrades cover electronics, guidance, and support systems to ensure compatibility with emerging strategic requirements.

Expanding Contract Portfolio

The award adds to a string of recent Navy contracts secured by Lockheed Martin for the Trident program. In August 2024, the company received $111 million to sustain missile production, while in February 2024, it was awarded $383 million for design and modernisation work on the system. Together, these contracts underline Washington’s commitment to ensuring the SLBM fleet remains operationally credible through the 2080s.

Lockheed Martin’s leadership in this field also complements parallel efforts by the U.S. defense establishment, including investments in the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (Sentinel ICBM) program and upgrades to the B-21 Raider bomber fleet, ensuring the overall triad remains balanced and resilient.

Strategic Importance

The continued investment in Trident II reflects broader concerns about maintaining deterrence in an increasingly complex global security environment. With Russia modernising its own SLBM systems such as the Bulava, and China expanding its nuclear-capable submarine fleet, the United States and its allies are ensuring that their sea-based deterrent remains credible.

For Lockheed Martin, the program is more than a contract—it is the continuation of a role the company has held since the Cold War, sustaining one of the most reliable missile systems ever developed. For the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy, the new funding guarantees that their undersea strategic forces will remain a cornerstone of global stability for decades to come.