a company i used to work for made the nose camera for the guidance system... until it was replaced by CCD systems that is.
Posted on 12/08/2006 6:59:03 AM PST by MARKUSPRIME
CAPE CANAVERAL: The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test launch Nov. 21 of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs) built by Lockheed Martin. The Navy launched the unarmed missiles from USS Maryland (SSBN 738) at the Eastern Range in the Atlantic Ocean.
With this two-missile mission, the Trident II D5 missile has achieved 117 consecutive successful test launches since 1989 -- a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle. The launches are part a continuing series of operational system evaluation tests conducted by the Navy to assure the safety, reliability, readiness and performance of the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System, as required by the Department of Defense's National Command Authority and conducted under the testing guidelines of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"The D5 missile's superb record is a result of continual technical advances under the exceptional leadership of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs," said Tory Bruno, vice president of Strategic Missile Programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The Navy's rigorous testing program helps to ensure the reliability and credibility of this critical national security asset."
First deployed in 1990 and scheduled for deployment until 2042, the Trident II D5 is aboard 12 of an eventual 14 Trident II-configured Ohio-class submarines. The three-stage, solid propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile has a range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime strategic missile contractor and missile system program manager for the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs. Approximately 2,400 Lockheed Martin Space Systems employees, principally in California, Georgia, Florida, Washington and Utah, support the design, development, production, test and operation of the Trident strategic weapon systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.
I wonder if those Russian Trawlers still "shadow" our launches. I have seen US Choppers dropping messages on the Trawlers, asking them to change locations, so the launch could continue.
*sigh* yeah.
A 20 kt bomb blew Hiroshima of the map in 1945. How many Trident II D5s are there on an Ohio class sub?... 20?
THAT is some serious destuctive power.
BTW, what is the CEP nowadays of the Tridents. I heard 150 feet......someone told me that it is now down to less than 50 feet. Any OSINT sources out there you can steer me to?
When MARVs detonate, you hear "And it counts!" in the background.
Funny you mentioned the Polaris. My Dad managed the program at GE to build the guidance system for the missile. It was a huge accomplishment even though I was too young to know it at the time.
By my math, that is
(300/20) x 7 x 24 = 2,520 Hiroshima yields per SSBN submarine.
Serious destructive power indeed!
I would not even give out the diameter of the planet.
Fox News headlines is posting that the test failed.
lmbo! And I'm not surprised at that.
>>Circular Error Probable (CEP) reportedly as low as 0.07 NM (120 m)
I'm sure it's smaller, the question is, How much?
And I'd say that with 300-475 kilotons on tap, what's 120m among friends?
From here:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/d-5-specs.htm
24
a company i used to work for made the nose camera for the guidance system... until it was replaced by CCD systems that is.
I think its 93 cep.Im not positive though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.