Lockheed Martin to build submarine-launched ballistic missiles

U.S. Navy strategic weapons experts are preparing to buy submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles capable of destroying city-sized targets virtually anywhere. Officials of the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Program Office in Washington announced a $21.8 million contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, Calif., for long lead items to support the fiscal 2017 Trident II D5 missile production schedule. The Trident II D5 advanced submarine-launched atomic missile has a range of 4,000 to 7,000 miles, was first deployed in 1990, and is scheduled to remain in service until 2027.