The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test flight Feb. 22 of a Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin. The Navy launched the unarmed missile from the submerged submarine USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) in the Atlantic Ocean.

This test marked the 137th successful test flight of the D5 missile since 1989 - a reliability record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

"We are proud of our partnership with Navy Strategic Systems Programs in this most recent successful demonstration of the readiness and reliability of the Trident II D5 missile," said Melanie A. Sloane, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missile programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, the Navy's Trident missile prime contractor.

"The performance of this critical strategic weapon system is a testament to the dedication of the entire government and industry team."

The Navy launched the missile as part of demonstration and shakedown operation 23 (DASO-23) to certify USS Tennessee for deployment, following a shipyard overhaul period.

The missile was converted into a test configuration using a test missile kit produced by Lockheed Martin that contains range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile currently is aboard OHIO-class and British VANGUARD-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., has been the strategic missile prime contractor for the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs since the inception of the Fleet Ballistic Missile program more than 50 years ago.

Lockheed Martin employees, principally in California, Georgia, Florida, Washington, Utah, Virginia and Scotland, support the design, development, production, test, and operation and sustainment of the Trident Strategic Weapon System.

Lockheed Martin leads the industry in performance and domain expertise in strategic missile and missile defense systems. Lockheed Martin designs and produces ballistic missiles, interceptors, target missiles and reentry systems with unmatched reliability. Lockheed Martin's focus on operational excellence yields affordable high-quality systems and services.