A U.S. Navy
Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM), built by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems Co. Missiles & Space Operations, Sunnyvale, Calif., was
successfully launched in a test conducted today from the USS Kentucky
(SSBN 737) at the Eastern Test Range off the Florida coast.

The test was another in a continuing series of operational
evaluation tests conducted by the Navy to monitor the safety,
reliability, readiness and performance of the Trident II D5 Strategic
Weapon System (SWS).

The missile represented the 91st consecutive successful test of
the Trident II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) and
continue the impressive string of successful test launches that began
in December 1989.

“The D5 missile’s performance continues to exceed even our most
wildly optimistic expectations,” said RADM Dennis Dwyer, director,
U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs. “No other large ballistic
missile or space launch vehicle in the world has amassed such a
remarkable record of reliability and launch success. This is true
testament to the dedication, skill and engineering excellence of our
missile system prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, Missiles & Space
Operations.”

Trident II D5 is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertial-guided
submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is 44.5 ft in length, 83
inches in diameter, weighs 130,000 lbs., has a range greater than 4000
nautical miles, and carries up to eight Multiple Independent Reentry
Vehicles (MIRVs).

“D5’s tremendous record of mission success is a triumph of talent
and teamwork by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Operations, the U.S.
Navy and the rest of the industry-government Trident team,” added Tom
Morton, vice president of Strategic Missile Programs at Lockheed
Martin Space Systems Company.

Trident II D5, the sixth generation of fleet ballistic missile
developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy, is presently deployed
in the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Navy plans to deploy the D5 missile
system into the Pacific SSBN fleet over the next several years.

The Navy selected Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space as its prime
missile contractor in 1955. Since then, the FBM team has produced the
Polaris (A1), Polaris (A2), Polaris (A3), Poseidon (C3), Trident I
(C4) and the Trident II (D5) missile.

The U.S. Navy has purchased 372 Trident II D5 missiles since
initial production began in 1987.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver,
Colo., is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin
Corporation. Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and
operates a variety of advanced technology systems for military, civil
and commercial customers. Chief products include space launch and
ground systems, remote sensing and communications satellites for
commercial and government customers, advanced space observatories and
interplanetary spacecraft, 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. Employing
more than 140,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2000 sales
surpassing $25 billion.