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Navy Awarded Lockheed Martin Missile Design Contract

The U.S. Navy issued a $76.6 million contract modification to advance the Trident II D5 missile design program.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Military

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The U.S. Navy awarded a $76.6 million contract modification to Lockheed Martin to continue development of the Trident II D5 missile system. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $76.6 million contract modification to support the design and development of the Trident II D5 missile. This funding, sourced from fiscal 2026 procurement accounts, specifically targets the D5LE2 program designed to sustain the weapon system through 2084.

Why it matters

This initiative ensures the continued viability of the nation's submarine-launched ballistic missile capability by integrating it into future vessels. The program seeks to maintain the strategic deterrent's serviceability well into the latter half of the century.

The Navy awarded a $76.6 million contract for work under the D5LE2 program, which is not competitively bid. The project relies on fiscal 2026 procurement funds to maintain missiles that serve both Columbia-class and Dreadnought-class submarines.

The players

Lockheed Martin

This global aerospace and defense company is the primary contractor for the U.S. Navy's Trident II D5 missile programs.

U.S. Navy

This branch of the United States Armed Forces is responsible for the development, procurement, and deployment of submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

The details

Lockheed Martin leads the development from Titusville, Florida, with operations spanning over a dozen locations including Denver, Colorado. The program is part of a broader effort to modernize the Trident II D5 system, which first entered service in 1990 and underwent its initial major refresh in 2017.

Timeline

  1. The Trident II D5 missile first entered service in 1990.

  2. The first major refresh of the system was completed in 2017.

  3. Four unarmed test flights for the missile occurred in September 2025.

  4. Work on the new contract is scheduled to run through September 30, 2030.

  5. The target end of service for the missile program is 2084.

Political Context

The D5LE2 program faces scrutiny from some budget hawks who question the non-competitive bidding process for such long-term defense contracts. Opponents often argue that sole-source awards limit transparency and potential cost savings compared to open-market procurement models.

As this contract uses fiscal 2026 procurement funds, the expenditure represents a direct allocation of taxpayer revenue toward national defense infrastructure. While the award has no immediate impact on household budgets, it confirms the long-term federal commitment to maintaining specific strategic weapon systems.

The takeaway

The sustained investment in the Trident II D5 program highlights a shift toward decades-long modernization strategies for essential national security assets. Maintaining these systems requires continuous facility upgrades and distributed manufacturing capacity across multiple states.

Further reading

For broader updates on defense acquisition, visit the Military section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Defence Blog.

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