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U.S. Navy Notches Another Successful Test of the Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missiles

SUNNYVALE, CA, May 14th, 2001 -- A U.S. Navy TRIDENT II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Missiles & Space Operations, Sunnyvale, Calif., was successfully launched in a test conducted today from the USS KENTUCKY (SSBN 737) at the Eastern Test Range off the Florida coast. The test was another in a continuing series of operational evaluation tests conducted by the Navy to monitor the safety, reliability, readiness and performance of the TRIDENT II D5 Strategic Weapon System (SWS).

The missile represented the 91st consecutive successful test of the TRIDENT II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) and continue the impressive string of successful test launches that began in December 1989.

"The D5 missile's performance continues to exceed even our most wildly optimistic expectations," said RADM Dennis Dwyer, Director, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs. "No other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle in the world has amassed such a remarkable record of reliability and launch success. This is true testament to the dedication, skill and engineering excellence of our missile system prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, Missiles & Space Operations."

TRIDENT II D5 is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertial-guided submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is 44.5 ft in length, 83 inches in diameter, weighs 130,000 lbs., has a range greater than 4000 nautical miles, and carries up to eight Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs).

"D5's tremendous record of mission success is a triumph of talent and teamwork by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Operations, the U.S. Navy and the rest of the industry-government Trident team," added Tom Morton, vice president of Strategic Missile Programs at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Trident II D5, the sixth generation of fleet ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy, is presently deployed in the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Navy plans to deploy the D5 missile system into the Pacific SSBN fleet over the next several years.

The Navy selected Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space as its prime missile contractor in 1955. Since then, the FBM team has produced the POLARIS (A1), POLARIS (A2), POLARIS (A3), POSEIDON (C3), TRIDENT I (C4) and the TRIDENT II (D5) missile.

The U.S. Navy has purchased 372 TRIDENT II D5 missiles since initial production began in 1987.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a variety of advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers. Chief products include space launch and ground systems, remote sensing and communications satellites for commercial and government customers, advanced space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.

Steve Tatum (408) 742-7531; e-mail: stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com