The U.S. Department of Defense has modified Lockheed Martin Space’s contract, adding $647 million to further the production and sustainment of the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile. The hybrid structure—mixing fixed-price incentive and cost-plus elements—covers the continued manufacturing of missiles and support for those deployed. A critical component of U.S. and U.K. nuclear deterrence, the Trident II D5 entered service in 1990 and features multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles capable of striking targets more than 7,000 kilometers away. It remains one of the most accurate strategic systems ever fielded, thanks to decades of improvements in guidance, propulsion, and reentry technology. Lockheed Martin, the program’s longstanding prime contractor, will execute the work across several locations in the United States, with Utah accounting for nearly a quarter of activity. The effort is expected to conclude by September 2030. The Pentagon will immediately commit $120 million in Fiscal Year 2025 Navy procurement funding toward the effort, awarded solely to Lockheed due to its unique expertise and production capabilities. Optional extensions could bring the contract’s value to $745 million. Beyond supporting the U.S. fleet, the deal enables a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom for its Vanguard-class submarines. Continued modernization of the Trident II system ensures its service life through the 2040s, aligning with both nations’ next-generation submarine deployments and reflecting enduring U.S.–U.K. cooperation in strategic deterrence and shared NATO defense commitments.
