SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2002 — The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed
Martin Space Systems-Missiles & Space Operations, Sunnyvale, Calif., a $248
million contract for the follow-on production of 12 TRIDENT II D5 Fleet
Ballistic Missiles (FBM) and start of the D5 service life extension (LE)
program.
The contract is one of several similarly sized contracts scheduled to be
awarded to Missiles & Space Operations (M&SO) over the coming years for
production of D5 missiles as part of the retrofit of four TRIDENT Ohio-class
submarines currently homeported at the Navy strategic submarine base in
Bangor, Wash. The contract also includes procurement of additional critical
components needed to extend the operational service life of the highly
successful TRIDENT II D5 missile system.
“Lockheed Martin is pleased to be continuing production of the D5 missiles
needed to outfit the remaining Trident II capable Ohio-class fleet ballistic
missile submarines, ” said Tom Morton, vice president, Lockheed Martin
Strategic Missile Programs. “We are also extremely gratified that the
government has decided at this critical time to moved forward with the
strategically important D5 LE program.”
The 12 missiles will support operational deployments of TRIDENT Ohio-class
submarines, including the USS HENRY M. JACKSON (SSBN-730), USS ALABAMA
(SSBN-731), USS ALASKA (SSBN-732), and USS NEVADA (enev-733), which are
being converted to carry TRIDENT II D5 missiles. These submarines currently
carry TRIDENT I C4 missiles.
Production of the missiles will begin in 2002, with an expected delivery to
the Navy in 2004. Since serial production began in 1987, the U.S. Navy has
purchased 396 TRIDENT II D5 submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
Under the D5 service life extension portion of the award are additional
rocket motors and other critical components, which are required to support
the higher D5 missile inventory objective associated with the U.S. Navy’s
1998 decision to extend the TRIDENT Ohio-class submarine’s service life from
30 to 44 years. Also included is re-qualification of production sources for
materials previously bought out to the 30-year service life missile
inventory objective. The D5 service life extension is expected to make the
D5 missile operationally viable until 2040.
Recently, a D5 missile was successfully flown in a test conducted at the
Eastern Test Range off the Florida coast. This missile represented the 94th
consecutive successful launch of the TRIDENT II D5 missile and continues the
string of successful test launches that began in December 1989. No other
large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle in the world has
demonstrated such a remarkable record of launch success.
The Navy selected Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space as its prime contractor
and missile manufacturer in 1955. Since then, the FBM team has produced six
successive generations of Fleet Ballistic Missiles-POLARIS (A1), POLARIS
(A2), POLARIS (A3), POSEIDON (C3), TRIDENT I (C4) and the TRIDENT II (D5).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of the world’s largest defense contractor,
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT). Space Systems is a global leader in
the design, development, test and production of space launch systems, ground
systems, scientific spacecraft, satellites for commercial and government
customers, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise
principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and
integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The
Corporation’s core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics,
and technology services. Lockheed Martin had 2000 sales surpassing $25
billion.
For more information about Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, see our web
site at
http://lmms.external.lmco.com