U.S. Navy Gives Lockheed Martin $383 Million for Next Generation Trident II D5 Missile Design

The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin, a defense technology company, a $383 million cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the existing Lockheed Martin contract for developing the next generation of the Trident II Strategic Weapons System D5 missile.

The contract modification entails the design of the integrated, modernized missile, called the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2, which will be carried by Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines to ensure the strategic weapon system efficiently works to 2084.

The award was followed by a $2.1 billion contract modification that the company received in  September of last year to produce and provide deployed systems support for the Trident II D5 missile and Warhead 93/Mark7 development.

The D5 missile, built and upgraded by the company for the Navy, is currently the world’s most advanced ballistic missile. It is not only aboard U.S. OHIO-class but also U.K. VANGUARD-class submarines.

This year also marks 70 years since the company’s support to the Navy developing and sustaining the missiles, known as the backbone for the nation’s sea-based deterrence, through the company’s Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) program.

Lockheed Martin’s FBM program plays an important role in protecting American and allied security with a focus on innovation through advanced digital technology and modern facilities.

Under the latest award, work will be deployed in Denver, Colorado, Cape Canaveral and Titusville, Florida; Magna, Utah, and other locations, and is scheduled for completion at the end of September 2030.

The defense technology company is breaking ground on a $140 million, 225,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Titusville, Florida, which will be one site to produce components for the D5LE2 ballistic missile and will continue its expansion in the area.

The facility is scheduled to be ready for operations in 2027 to meet the Navy’s production needs and support the service for the next 60 years. The new facility not only expands Lockheed Martin’s presence in Florida’s Space Coast but also is expected to employ approximately 300 highly-skilled workers. The average annual salary for the new jobs will be $89,000.

According to the defense technology firm, it currently has a total of 16,766 employees at 74 facilities in Florida, with a total payroll in the state of about $2 billion.

Image source by Lockheed Martin