Navy Nuclear-Armed Trident Missile Finishes Upgrade - Lives into 2040s
By Kris Osborn - Warrior Maven
(Washington D.C.) The submarine-launched, nuclear armed Trident II D5 ballistic missile will live to fight another day...many days in fact … as the Pentagon is now finalizing a Life-Extension Program for the weapon which will ensure its reliability and use well into the 2040s.
“The W76-1 LEP was completed under budget and ahead of schedule, strengthening the Nation’s safety and security by extending the warhead’s service life from 20 years to 60 years,†The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration 2021 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan – Biennial Plan Summary stated.
In service for decades, often tested and repeatedly upgraded, the three-stage Trident II D5 ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carry multiple independently targeted reentry bodies, according to Navy and Lockheed information.
https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/future-weapons/navy-nuclear-armed-trident-missile-finishes-upgrade-lives-into-2040s-ZrZT7QfNDkWCQRd6d6KJLA
