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Trident II
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Trident missile
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Trident II

missile
Also known as: Trident D-5
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Trident missile
Trident missile The Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Maryland test-firing an unarmed Trident II D5 missile, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, August 31, 2016.

The Trident II (D-5) is an American-made submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that succeeded earlier models like the Poseidon and Polaris. It is the sole strategic-range nuclear weapon for the United Kingdom and forms the sea-based component of the U.S. nuclear forces.1

The Trident II is approximately 46 feet long and carries multiple independently targetable warheads, with a maximum range of about 6,500 nautical miles. Its warheads are launched by solid-fueled boosters and dispersed by a liquid-fueled "bus." The missile's accuracy, enhanced by stellar or satellite navigation, allows it to threaten hardened targets. Its extended range enables submarines to patrol widely, making detection difficult.1

The U.S. began deploying Trident II missiles on Ohio-class submarines in 1990. The United Kingdom commissioned its Vanguard submarines to carry the Trident II, fitted with British-designed warheads, between 1994 and 1999.1

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  1. Trident missile
  2. Polaris missile

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