Trident (missile)

The Trident missile is a special kind of missile that can be launched from submarines underwater. It is designed to carry very powerful explosions called thermonuclear warheads to distant targets. This missile was originally made by Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation.

Trident missiles are used by both the United States Navy and the Royal Navy. The United States uses them on twelve Ohio-class submarines, while the United Kingdom uses them on four Vanguard-class submarines. These submarines are powered by nuclear energy, making them very stealthy and capable of staying underwater for long periods.

The name "Trident" comes from the mythological trident of Neptune, the god of the sea. Like the trident, this missile is meant to be a powerful symbol of strength and reach, able to strike from far away under the ocean.

Development

In 1971, the US Navy started planning for a new advanced missile system called the Undersea Long-range Missile System (ULMS). This plan included building a longer-range missile named ULMS II, which would go twice as far as the existing Poseidon missile. They also planned a bigger submarine to replace older ones starting in 1978. The ULMS II missile was later named Trident.

The first test of the Trident happened on January 18, 1977, when an unarmed missile was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. It traveled nearly 4,600 miles to a point near Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Trident I missiles were deployed in 1979 and retired in 2005. Trident II missiles, which are more accurate, were first deployed in 1990 and were expected to stay in service until around 2027.

The United Kingdom also uses Trident missiles under an agreement made in 1963, which was updated in 1982. In 2009, the United States improved the warheads on their Trident II missiles to make them better at hitting hard targets like bunkers.

Description

The Trident missile is launched from submarines underwater. When launched, an explosion pushes the missile out of its tube and it breaks through the water’s surface. The missile is kept safe from water damage by being filled with a special gas. Once above water, the missile’s engine starts, and a special part reduces drag as it flies through the air. Within minutes, it leaves Earth’s atmosphere and follows a path high above the planet.

The guidance system helps the missile find its target. It uses stars to check its position and stay on course. There are two types of Trident missiles. The first type was used on early submarines, while the second type is more advanced and is used on both American and British submarines. Tests of these missiles have mostly been successful, and plans are in place to keep them working for many more years.

Trident I (C4) UGM-96A

Main article: UGM-96 Trident I

The first eight Ohio-class submarines were built with the Trident I missiles.

Trident II (D5) UGM-133A

Main article: UGM-133 Trident II

The second type of Trident missile can carry more and is used on later American and British submarines. It has had many successful test flights since 1989.

D5LE (D5 Life Extension Program)

In 2002, plans were made to keep the submarines and missiles working until 2040. This involves updating parts to keep them reliable. Companies were hired to help with these updates. Britain also planned to join this effort.

The first test of an updated guidance system happened in 2012, exactly 22 years after the first Trident II launch.

D5LE2 (D5 Life Extension Program 2)

In 2020, studies began to see if the missiles could be kept working until 2084. The updated missiles could be placed on new submarines starting around 2039.

Conventional Trident

The Pentagon suggested changing some Trident missiles in 2006 to make them conventional weapons. This idea was part of a plan called "Prompt Global Strike" to attack targets quickly from anywhere in the world.

The plan cost $503 million and would have changed two missiles on each submarine. These missiles would use special vehicles to guide them very accurately, about as wide as a small room. They wouldn’t use explosives but would hit targets so hard that the impact alone would cause major damage. One version could spread out tiny rods to destroy a large area.

However, a big problem with these missiles is that they look just like nuclear missiles to warning systems. This could make other countries think it was a nuclear attack and respond with their own nuclear weapons. This concern caused a lot of discussion and debate, both in the U.S. Congress and around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that using these missiles might lead to a dangerous nuclear response.

Operators

The Trident missile is used by two navies. The Royal Navy operates these missiles, and so does the United States Navy. Each navy has its own submarines to launch these powerful missiles.