Navy pushes submarine ballistic missile technology

U.S. Navy officials are asking experts at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space in Sunnyvale, Calif., to study unique technologies for submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) — a long-neglected research area that has been virtually dormant for the past decade. Lockheed Martin specialists are to establish a program to support SLBM technologies such as missile flight sciences, submarine navigation, multiple independent reentry vehicle deployment and post boost control, volume-constrained solid propulsion, underwater missile launch, and radiation hardening. The program first will fund core technology development in two of seven missile technology areas: radiation-hardened system design, and solid rocket motor ignition effects. — J.K.