Northrop Grumman creates 2000th engine for Trident II intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads and a launch range of more than 12,000 km

Northrop Grumman has reported the achievement of a major milestone. The company has completed work on the 2000th solid rocket motor for the Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missile.

Here's What We Know

Northrop Grumman began work on Trident II rocket engines in 1996. In 27 years, the American company has produced over 800 first- and second-stage engines and over 370 third-stage engines.

The Trident II (D5) is a ballistic missile that equips Ohio-class submarines. It is carried by 14 of the 18 strategic missile cruisers in the US Navy:

• USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730);
• USS Alabama (SSBN-731);
• USS Alaska (SSBN-732);
• USS Nevada (SSBN-733);
• USS Tennessee (SSBN-734);
• USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735);
• USS West Virginia (SSBN-736);
• USS Kentucky (SSBN-737);
• USS Maryland (SSBN-738);
• USS Nebraska (SSBN-739);
• USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740);
• USS Maine (SSBN-741);
• USS Wyoming (SSBN-742);
• USS Louisiana (SSBN-743).

Each Ohio-class submarine carries up to 20 ballistic missiles with up to eight nuclear warheads. The Trident II (D5) has a maximum launch range of more than 12,000 km.

The intercontinental ballistic missile manufacturer is Lockheed Martin. It has already carried out more than 190 successful flight tests, during which no malfunctions of propulsion systems have been recorded.

Source: Northrop Grumman