Trident 2 missile system. The failure of the Trident II D5 ballistic missile (5 photos). Russian "Sineva" against the American "Trident"

three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missiles placed on submarines.

Development history

Deployment

Realizing the impossibility of obtaining a new SSBN earlier than the end of the 70s, the TTZ on the Trident I S-4 laid down size restrictions. It had to fit into the dimensions of the Poseidon rocket. This made it possible to re-equip thirty-one SSBNs of the Lafayette type with new missiles. Each SSBN was equipped with 16 missiles. Also with Trident-C4 missiles, 8 new-generation Ohio-type boats with 24 of the same missiles were to be put into operation. Due to financial constraints, the number of Lafayette-class SSBNs to be re-equipped was reduced to 12. They were 6 James Madison-class and 6 Benjamin Franklin-class boats, as well as the ssgn-619 that was not decommissioned.

At the second stage, it was supposed to build another 14 Ohio-type SSBNs and arm all boats of this project with the new Trident II-D5 SLBM with higher performance characteristics. Due to the need to reduce nuclear weapons under the START-2 treaty, only 10 boats of the second series were built with Trident II-D5 missiles. And out of 8 boats of the first series, only 4 SSBNs were converted to new missiles.

Current state

To date, the James Madison-class and Benjamin Franklin-class SSBNs have been withdrawn from the fleet. And as of 2009, all 14 Ohio-class SSBNs in service are equipped with the Trident II-D5. The Trident I S-4 missile has been withdrawn from service.

As part of the "rapid global strike" program, developments are underway to equip Trident II missiles with non-nuclear warheads. As a warhead, it is possible to use either an MIRV with tungsten "arrows", or a monoblock with an explosive mass of up to 2 tons.

Modifications

Trident I (C4) UGM-96A "Trident-I" C4)

The general contractor is Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. Adopted by the US Navy in 1979. The missile has been decommissioned.

Trident II (D5) UGM-133A "Trident II" D5)

In 1990, the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company completed testing of the new Trident-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and it was put into service.

Comparative characteristics of modifications

Characteristic	UGM-96A "Trident-I" C4	UGM-133A "Trident II" D5
Starting weight, kg	32 000	59 000
Maximum cast weight, kg	1 280	2 800
warheads
Type of guidance system	inertial	inertial + astro correction + GPS
KVO, m	360 - 500	120 with astro correction 350 - 500 inertial
Range: maximum with maximum load		11 000
Length, m	10,36	13,42
Diameter, m	1,88	2,11
Quantity X Type of steps	3 RDTT	3 RDTT

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Notes



Polaris

Poseidon

Trident

An excerpt characterizing the Trident (rocket)

Rostov was silent.
- What about you? have breakfast too? They are decently fed,” continued Telyanin. - Come on.
He reached out and took hold of the wallet. Rostov released him. Telyanin took the purse and began to put it into the pocket of his breeches, and his eyebrows casually rose, and his mouth opened slightly, as if he were saying: “Yes, yes, I put my purse in my pocket, and it’s very simple, and no one cares about this” .
- Well, what, young man? he said, sighing and looking into Rostov's eyes from under his raised eyebrows. Some kind of light from the eyes, with the speed of an electric spark, ran from Telyanin's eyes to Rostov's eyes and back, back and back, all in an instant.
“Come here,” said Rostov, grabbing Telyanin by the hand. He almost dragged him to the window. - This is Denisov's money, you took it ... - he whispered in his ear.
“What?… What?… How dare you?” What? ... - said Telyanin.
But these words sounded a plaintive, desperate cry and a plea for forgiveness. As soon as Rostov heard this sound of a voice, a huge stone of doubt fell from his soul. He felt joy, and at the same moment he felt sorry for the unfortunate man who stood before him; but it was necessary to complete the work begun.
“The people here, God knows what they might think,” muttered Telyanin, grabbing his cap and heading into a small empty room, “we need to explain ourselves ...
“I know it, and I will prove it,” said Rostov.
- I…
Telyanin's frightened, pale face began to tremble with all its muscles; his eyes still ran, but somewhere below, not rising to Rostov's face, and sobs were heard.
- Count! ... do not ruin the young man ... here is this unfortunate money, take it ... - He threw it on the table. - My father is an old man, my mother! ...
Rostov took the money, avoiding Telyanin's gaze, and, without saying a word, left the room. But at the door he stopped and turned back. “My God,” he said with tears in his eyes, “how could you do this?
“Count,” said Telyanin, approaching the cadet.
“Don’t touch me,” Rostov said, pulling away. If you need it, take this money. He threw his wallet at him and ran out of the inn.

In the evening of the same day, a lively conversation was going on at Denisov's apartment among the officers of the squadron.
“And I’m telling you, Rostov, that you need to apologize to the regimental commander,” said the tall staff captain, with graying hair, huge mustaches and large features of a wrinkled face, addressing the crimson red, agitated Rostov.
The staff captain Kirsten was twice demoted to the soldiers for deeds of honor and twice cured.
"I won't let anyone tell you I'm lying!" cried Rostov. He told me that I was lying, and I told him that he was lying. And so it will remain. They can put me on duty even every day and put me under arrest, but no one will make me apologize, because if he, as a regimental commander, considers himself unworthy of giving me satisfaction, then ...
- Yes, you wait, father; you listen to me, - the captain interrupted the staff in his bass voice, calmly smoothing his long mustache. - You tell the regimental commander in front of other officers that the officer stole ...
- It's not my fault that the conversation started in front of other officers. Maybe I shouldn't have spoken in front of them, but I'm not a diplomat. I then joined the hussars and went, thinking that subtleties are not needed here, but he tells me that I am lying ... so let him give me satisfaction ...
- That's all right, no one thinks that you are a coward, but that's not the point. Ask Denisov, does it look like something for a cadet to demand satisfaction from a regimental commander?
Denisov, biting his mustache, listened to the conversation with a gloomy look, apparently not wanting to intervene in it. When asked by the captain's staff, he shook his head negatively.
“You are talking to the regimental commander about this dirty trick in front of the officers,” the headquarters captain continued. - Bogdanich (Bogdanich was called the regimental commander) laid siege to you.
- He didn’t siege, but said that I was telling a lie.
- Well, yes, and you said something stupid to him, and you need to apologize.
- Never! shouted Rostov.
“I didn’t think it was from you,” the headquarters captain said seriously and sternly. - You do not want to apologize, and you, father, not only before him, but before the whole regiment, before all of us, you are to blame all around. And here's how: if only you thought and consulted how to deal with this matter, otherwise you directly, but in front of the officers, and thumped. What should the regimental commander do now? Should we put the officer on trial and mess up the entire regiment? Shame the entire regiment because of one villain? So, what do you think? But in our opinion, it is not. And well done Bogdanich, he told you that you are not telling the truth. It’s unpleasant, but what to do, father, they themselves ran into it. And now, as they want to hush up the matter, so you, because of some kind of fanabery, do not want to apologize, but want to tell everything. You are offended that you are on duty, but why should you apologize to an old and honest officer! Whatever Bogdanich may be, but all honest and brave, old colonel, you are so offended; and messing up the regiment is okay for you? - The voice of the captain's staff began to tremble. - You, father, are in the regiment for a week without a year; today here, tomorrow they moved to adjutants somewhere; you don’t give a damn what they will say: “Thieves are among the Pavlograd officers!” And we don't care. So, what, Denisov? Not all the same?
Denisov remained silent and did not move, occasionally glancing with his shining black eyes at Rostov.
“Your fanabery is dear to you, you don’t want to apologize,” continued the headquarters captain, “but we old people, how we grew up, and God willing, will die in the regiment, so the honor of the regiment is dear to us, and Bogdanich knows it. Oh, how dear, father! And this is not good, not good! Take offense there or not, but I will always tell the truth to the uterus. Not good!
And the captain's staff stood up and turned away from Rostov.
- Pg "avda, chog" take it! shouted Denisov, jumping up. - Well, G "skeleton! Well!
Rostov, blushing and turning pale, looked first at one officer, then at another.
- No, gentlemen, no ... don’t think ... I understand very well, you shouldn’t think so about me ... I ... for me ... I am for the honor of the regiment. but what? I’ll show it in practice, and for me the honor of the banner ... well, it’s all the same, really, it’s my fault! .. - Tears stood in his eyes. - I'm to blame, all around to blame! ... Well, what else do you want? ...
“That’s it, count,” the captain shouted, turning around, hitting him on the shoulder with his big hand.
“I’m telling you,” Denisov shouted, “he’s a nice little one.
“That’s better, Count,” repeated the captain of the staff, as if for his recognition he was beginning to call him a title. - Go and apologize, your excellency, yes s.
“Gentlemen, I’ll do everything, no one will hear a word from me,” Rostov said in an imploring voice, “but I can’t apologize, by God, I can’t, as you wish!” How will I apologize, like a little one, to ask for forgiveness?
Denisov laughed.
- It's worse for you. Bogdanych is vindictive, pay for your stubbornness, - said Kirsten.
- By God, not stubbornness! I can't describe to you the feeling, I can't...
- Well, your will, - said the headquarters captain. - Well, where did this bastard go? he asked Denisov.
- He said he was sick, zavtg "and ordered pg" and by order to exclude, - Denisov said.
“This is a disease, otherwise it cannot be explained,” said the captain of the staff.
- Already there, the disease is not a disease, and if he doesn’t catch my eye, I’ll kill you! Denisov shouted bloodthirstyly.
Zherkov entered the room.
- How are you? the officers suddenly turned to the newcomer.
- Walk, gentlemen. Mack surrendered as a prisoner and with the army, absolutely.
- You're lying!
- I saw it myself.
- How? Have you seen Mac alive? with arms or legs?
- Hike! Campaign! Give him a bottle for such news. How did you get here?
“They sent him back to the regiment, for the devil, for Mack. The Austrian general complained. I congratulated him on the arrival of Mack ... Are you, Rostov, just from the bathhouse?
- Here, brother, we have such a mess for the second day.
The regimental adjutant entered and confirmed the news brought by Zherkov. Tomorrow they were ordered to speak.

At the end of last week, the Pentagon closed a significant area of the world's oceans for air flights and navigation: to the west of the Florida peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico, and also to the west of Angola in the South Atlantic. This was due to the launch of the Trident-2 ICBM scheduled for Sunday night from aboard one of the Ohio-class strategic nuclear submarines.

This launch is not listed as planned, intended either to confirm the performance characteristics of missiles that are in long-term operation, or to carry out measures for the next modernization of the missile, which was put into service in 1990. Since the previous planned firing by a pair of Trident-2s with an interval of three hours was carried out in March by the Ohio boat, which was located near the California coast of the United States.

So we can assume that now we have observed a demonstrative "muscle game". And it was associated with a salvo launch by the Russian strategic submarine Dmitry Donskoy of project 995 Borey of four Bulava ICBMs. The volley was fired with an interval of 1-2 seconds between the release of two adjacent missiles.

In the West, the firing of the Russian Navy is also considered demonstrative, for some reason tying it to the then approaching opening of the World Cup. However, these firings were, first of all, a test of the submarine's systems to conduct salvo firing, which has never been done in Russia since the late 80s.

The complexity of such massive launches lies in the fact that the boat after the launch of each missile loses mass, which leads to a change in the depth of its location. And this, in turn, in the case of unreliable operation of the rocket control automation, can affect accuracy. On May 22, all missiles fired from the White Sea reached the Kura range in Kamchatka, all warheads hit their targets.

In the past three years, Pentagon generals, constantly and purposefully knocking out funding in the US Congress, have been talking about the need to improve their nuclear potential "in the face of Russia's aggressive aspirations." That is, to create new strategic weapons in all three of its types - underwater, air and ground.

And these persistent speeches had an effect. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office released a report, Projected US Nuclear Spending 2017 to 2026. It contains a total amount of 400 billion dollars. Of course, not all of this money will be spent on new developments and the construction of advanced weapons. Enormous funds are spent on the maintenance of existing arsenals and strategic equipment. At the same time, in the same document, published in 2015, it was about 350 billion. Significant progress.

This money is already beginning to be actively untwisted. And above all in the marine component of the nuclear triad. A fourth-generation strategic boat, the Columbia, is currently being designed to replace the Ohio as it soon turns 40. The development cost is estimated at $12 billion. The construction of each of the 14 strategic submarines is estimated at about $5 billion. However, if the first boats begin to be laid in the next decade, that is, during the period indicated in the report of Congress, then they will begin to enter the US Navy already in the 30s. The entire Columbia project will cost $100 billion.

At the same time, there is no talk of replacing the Trident-2 missile with a promising ICBM. The US Navy is satisfied with it, because it leads the world in a number of parameters. She has the smallest circular probable deviation from the target - about 100 meters. Our Bulava has 250 meters. So far, Trident-2 is second in range after the Russian Sineva - 11,300 km against 11,500 km. In terms of casting weight, parity with the Sineva is 2800 kg. However, the Sineva, after the replacement of the third-generation strategic submarines - Dolphin and Kalmar - with the Borey fourth-generation boats, will be decommissioned. Only the Bulava will remain, which has less range and throwable weight. However, firstly, due to the modernization, the Bulava is expected to be upgraded in the foreseeable future in terms of power characteristics to an American missile.

And, secondly, the Bulava control system is more perfect, which is extremely important in a situation of constantly building up the capabilities of missile defense systems. An ICBM, "stupidly" flying along a ballistic trajectory, after a while will become not the most difficult prey for missile defense systems. As for the Bulava, it uses modern methods of overcoming missile defense. A short active section of the trajectory, when the rocket is easily detected by a running engine. Flat trajectory, leaving anti-missiles too little time to react. And, finally, the maneuvering of warheads. As well as electronic warfare equipment. The Trident-2 ICBM has none of this.

But the quantitative superiority in missiles located on one strategic submarine will be eliminated with the arrival of the Columbia boats in the US Navy. Now the Ohio boat has the 24th ICBM. Each Russian boat has 16 ICBMs. Columbia will also have 16. However, the reduction in striking power, the Pentagon intends to compensate for the greater secrecy of Columbia. It is supposed to partially use the technologies of the Virginia multi-purpose (non-strategic) boat, which, like our Borey, belongs to the fourth generation of submarines.

The maritime component of the triad is the strongest in the United States. Submarines carry 67% of the total number of nuclear warheads on combat duty. Everything else is accounted for by US strategic aviation and land-based silo-based missiles.

The second place is occupied by the air component of the nuclear triad. And here it is supposed to do a lot of work so that, as the vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff recently stated at a congressional hearing General Paul Selva, strategic aviation was guaranteed to overcome the Russian air defense system.

Work is being carried out in two directions. A promising B-21 bomber and a cruise missile with a nuclear charge are being created. The United States has bombers, but they are mostly very ancient - B-52. Modern - V-2 - very few, only 19 cars. There are no strategic missiles, instead of them bombs B61 (340 kt) and B63 (1.1 Mt).

The $80 billion B-21 bomber tender was won by Northrop Grumman. Almost nothing is known about what the B-21 will be and what characteristics it will have, since the work is at the very initial stage. There is only a reduced layout for showing to the press and potential customers. Outwardly, this is a "flying wing", which has some similarities with the B-2. It is assumed that the bomber will have two control modes - manned by a pilot and unmanned.

According to the plan, the first aircraft should appear as early as 2025. However, these are overly optimistic forecasts. The B-2 Spirit took 20 years to build. 10 years from the start of development to the first flight of the prototype, and the same amount before the start of mass production. However, the Pentagon plans to have 100 new bombers by 2037.

Lockheed Martin is developing a long-range LRSO (Long Range Stand-Off) nuclear cruise missile to equip not only promising, but also operating strategic bombers.

Ground-based nuclear forces represent the Minuteman-3 silo-based ICBMs, which began to be put on combat duty in 1970. That is almost half a century ago. This is the weakest link in the US nuclear triad. If the missiles have a good range - 13,000 km, then there are almost no mechanisms to counter missile defense systems. They periodically change fuel, replace aging warheads, and upgrade the control system. But this rocket is clearly outdated, as stated several times Donald Trump informed by the referents.

The Pentagon decided to replace them with promising ones. The $62 billion tender was won by Northrop Grumman and Boeing. For a billion, by 2020 they must provide a report on what technologies need to be used to create a promising ICBM. That is, it is the cost of R&D. Big money will come at the stage of R&D and the subsequent serial production of four hundred missiles. The cost of purchases, together with the cost of development, is $62 billion. Of these, 13 billion will be paid for the creation of command and control systems, as well as launch centers.

January 22, 1934 was born a scientist who worked in the field of control systems, Igor Ivanovich Velichko. With his direct participation, sea-based ballistic missiles were created, which entered service with the USSR Navy. In terms of shooting accuracy, they could compete with similar American Tridents. Their modifications are still armed with Russian strategic submarines.

Training launch "Trident-2"

UPI graduate becomes OKB director

The career history of Igor Ivanovich Velichko (1934 - 2014) is straightforward. After graduating from the Ural Polytechnic Institute in 1947, he entered the position of engineer at NII-529 (now NPO Avtomatiki, Yekaterinburg). Soon he worked as a senior engineer, then as a leader, head of a department. And in 1983 he headed the research institute.

In 1985, he moved to SKB-385 (now the Makeev State Missile Center) located in Miass, Chelyabinsk Region, as the director of the enterprise and general designer.

This transition was psychologically difficult. Because Velichko came to the place of the suddenly deceased Viktor Petrovich Makeev. Corypheus, founder of the national school of naval strategic rocket science. Winner of the Lenin and three State Prizes of the USSR.

Training launch of the Bulava rocket

True, Velichko also had the State and Lenin Prizes by that time. And they were received for work in the same military-technical field. Because NII-529 is closely associated with SKB-385, creating control systems for sea-based missiles that Makeev developed.

Velichko began working on missiles for nuclear submarines in the early 1970s. At the same time, he acquired the proper degree of administrative influence on the course of development.

Access to the intercontinental level

It must be said that at the first stage of its existence, Soviet submarine-launched missiles were not the weakest link in the Soviet strategic submarine fleet. They quite “harmoniously” fit into the tactical and technical level of nuclear submarines that existed at that time. The boats lost to the American ones in a number of ways: they were noisier, had less speed and range. And the accident was far from all right. And the missiles had a shorter range and accuracy. Although the "stuffing" of missiles, that is, in terms of power, calculated in kilotons, there was an approximate equality.

So the design bureaus that worked for the Navy were catching up with American submariners in almost all categories of development. By the mid-70s, when the US Navy was resting on its laurels, not fearing that the Soviets would catch up with them in the 20th century, we had achieved equality - both quantitatively and qualitatively. And inexorably moved forward.

The situation leveled off in connection with the appearance of the boats of project 667BDR Kalmar, which began to enter service in the early 70s. They had low noise, had excellent navigation and acoustic equipment. Crew living conditions have been improved.

Their main weapon was the D-9 launcher developed by SKB-385, armed with an R-29 rocket with a rocket engine. It was put into service in 1974. And three years later, a more advanced modification appeared - the D-9R with sixteen R-29R missiles in the ammunition load.

It was already an absolutely modern weapon, which made it possible to solve absolutely all the tasks assigned to strategic nuclear submarines. An intercontinental firing range was ensured with a simultaneous increase in the weight of the combat load, the accuracy of firing was increased due to astro-correction, multiple reentry vehicles (D-9R) were used, the autonomy of combat use and all-weather combat use of missiles from multi-missile nuclear submarines from any area of the World Ocean were realized.

The D-9R complex made it possible to launch, moreover, in salvo, 16 R-29R missiles. Their range, depending on the payload, ranged from 6500 to 9000 km. Probable circular deviation - 900 m with an inertial targeting system with full astro correction. A significant increase in accuracy (for previous missiles, the KVO was 1500 meters) was achieved by improving the missile control system. Igor Velichko also made a certain contribution to the new development.

The head part of the rocket had 3 modifications. The power of the monoblock head was 450 kt. In the case of a separable warhead, 3 warheads of 200 kt each or 7 of 100 kt were installed. And here Makeev was already three years ahead of his competitors from Lockheed - it was three years later that the first missiles with a multiple warhead appeared in the US submariners. It was no longer a Polaris, but a Trident.

R-29Rs are still in service with the Russian submarine fleet. Their launches are regularly carried out, which all turn out to be successful. Their coefficient of technical reliability is 0.95.

Continuing the work of Makeev

SKB-385, working in tandem with NII-529, created new complexes for new missiles and at the same time carried out a deep modernization of existing ones. So much so that it turned out, in fact, new weapons with original quality.

So, in 1983, the D-19 complex with the first naval three-stage solid-propellant rocket R-39 entered service. It is equipped with a multiple reentry vehicle with ten blocks, has an intercontinental firing range and is deployed on the Project 941 Pike nuclear submarine with a record displacement of 48,000 tons.

And in 1987, a modified D-9RM complex was created with an R-29RM missile with ten warheads for a boat of the third generation of the project. This work has already been completed by Igor Velichko, who headed the SRC. Makeev. And as a direct developer of the missile control system, and as a newly minted general designer of SKB-385.

Until 2007, the R-29RM had the best performance characteristics among Russian submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Then the R-29RMU2 "Sineva" appeared, in which the CVO decreased by 200 meters and the means of countering missile defense improved. But one of the main parameters - the energy characteristic - remained the same. And he is the best among all ballistic sea missiles in the world. This is the ratio of the value of the thrown weight to the launch weight of the rocket.

Both R-29RM and Sineva have this figure equal to 46. Trident-1 has 33, Trident-2 has 37.5. This is the most important indicator of the missile's combat capabilities, it determines the dynamics of its flight. And this, in turn, affects the overcoming of the enemy missile defense system. In this connection, "Sineva" is even called "a masterpiece of naval rocket science."

High flight "Liner"

The R-29RMU2 is a three-stage liquid-propellant missile with a range of 3,500 km more than the Trident-2, which is in service with the latest generation of American missile submarines. The missile can carry from 4 to 10 heads of individual guidance.

"Sineva" has a high resistance to the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. It has a modern set of means to overcome missile defense. Targeting is carried out in a complex way: with the help of an inertial system, astro-correction equipment and the GLONASS navigation satellite system, due to which the maximum deviation from the target was reduced to 250 m.

The Makeev SRC could also become a trendsetter in the field of creating sea-based solid-propellant missiles. However, this did not happen due to both objective and subjective circumstances. From 1983 to 2004, the R-39 solid-propellant missiles of the Makeyevka design were in service. They were inferior to the liquid-fuel R-29R both in range (by 25%) and in deviation from the target (twice), and their starting weight was more than 2 times.

But by the beginning of the 90s, more efficient fuel and new electronic components appeared. And the Miassians already had experience in creating this type of missiles. And the RCC began to develop the R-39UTTKh Bark missile, which was to be armed with fourth-generation boats. However, this development went awry due to scarce funding, and in connection with the collapse of the USSR. The production of some components ended up in the territories of independent states, and they had to look for a replacement. In particular, it was necessary to change the excellent fuel, which became "foreign", fuel of poorer quality. It was possible to conduct test launches of only three missiles. And they all failed.

In 1998 the project was closed. And the rocket for Boreev was given to the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, which has proven itself well as the creator of mobile complexes and. But no account was taken of the fact that MIT had never dealt with sea-based missiles. As a result, development is extremely difficult and slow. "Mace", no doubt, will bring to mind. But it is already clear that in terms of the range and total power of the divided warheads, it is somewhat inferior to the Sineva.

However, the "thermotechnical" rocket has a significant advantage - greater survivability: resistance to the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion and laser weapons. Anti-missile defense systems are also provided due to the low active area and its short duration. He, according to the chief designer of the rocket, Yuri Solomonov, is 3-4 times less than domestic and foreign rockets. That is, all the advantages of "Topol-M" were transferred to the "Mace".

At the end of the 2000s, a new modification of the Sineva rocket was created, called the Liner. It is capable of carrying up to 12 warheads of 100 kt each. Moreover, according to the developers, these are warheads of a new type - "intelligent". Their deviation from the target is 250 meters.

TTX missiles R-29RMU2.1 "Liner" and UGM-133A "Trident-2"

Number of steps: 3 - 3
Engine type: liquid - solid fuel
Length: 14.8 m - 13.4 m
Diameter: 1.9 m - 2.1 m
Starting weight: 40 t - 60 t
Cast weight: 2.8t - 2.8t
KVO: 250 m - 120 m
Range: 11500 km - 7800 km
Warhead power: 12x100 kt or 4x250 kt - 4x475 kt or 14x100 kt

UGM-133A Trident II- American three-stage ballistic missile designed to be launched from nuclear submarines. Developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California. The missile has a maximum range of 11,300 km and has a multiple warhead with individual guidance units equipped with 475 and 100 kiloton thermonuclear charges.

Due to its high accuracy, SLBMs are capable of effectively hitting small, highly protected targets - deep bunkers and silo launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles. As of 2010, the Trident II is the only SLBM remaining in service with US Navy and British Navy SSBNs. The warheads deployed on the Trident II make up 52% of the US strategic nuclear forces and 100% of the UK strategic nuclear forces.
Together with the Trident I missile, it is part of the missile system "Trident". In 1990, it was adopted by the US Navy. The carriers of the Trident missile system are 14 SSBNs of the type "Ohio". In 1995, she was adopted by the Royal Navy of Great Britain. Missiles "Trident II" are armed with 4 SSBNs of the type "Vanguard" .

Development history

Another transformation of the views of the American political leadership on the prospects for nuclear war began approximately in the second half of the 1970s. Most scientists were of the opinion that even a retaliatory Soviet nuclear strike would be fatal for the United States. Therefore, the theory of a limited nuclear war for the European theater of operations was adopted. For its implementation, new nuclear weapons were needed.

On November 1, 1966, the US Department of Defense began research work on strategic weapons STRAT-X. Initially, the goal of the program was to evaluate the design of a new strategic missile proposed by the US Air Force - the future MX. However, under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, evaluation rules were formulated, according to which proposals from other branches of forces should be evaluated at the same time. When considering the options, the cost of the weapons complex being created was calculated taking into account the creation of the entire basing infrastructure. An estimate was made of the number of surviving warheads after an enemy nuclear strike. The resulting cost of the "surviving" warhead was the main evaluation criterion. From the US Air Force, in addition to ICBMs with deployment in a mine of increased security, the option of using a new bomber was submitted for consideration B-1 .

Design

Construction of marching steps

Rocket "Trident-2" - three-stage, with an arrangement of steps of the "tandem" type. Missile length 13,530 mm (532.7 in), maximum launch weight 59,078 kg (130,244 lb). All three march stages are equipped with solid propellant rocket engines. The first and second stages are 2108 mm (83 in) in diameter and are interconnected by a transition compartment. The nose is 2057 mm (81 in) in diameter. It includes a third stage engine occupying the central part of the head compartment and a breeding stage with warheads located around it. From external influences, the bow is closed by a fairing and a nose cap with a sliding telescopic aerodynamic needle.

Head section design

The head part of the missiles was developed by General Electric. In addition to the previously mentioned fairing and solid propellant rocket motors of the third stage, it includes an instrument compartment, a combat compartment and a propulsion system. Control systems, dispersal of warheads, power supplies and other equipment are installed in the instrument compartment. The control system controls the operation of all three rocket stages and the breeding stage.

Compared with the operation scheme of the Trident-1 missile breeding stage, a number of improvements have been introduced to the Trident-2. Unlike the C4 flight, the warheads look “forward” in the acceleration section. After the separation of the solid propellant rocket motor of the third stage, the dilution stage is oriented to the position necessary for astrocorrection. After that, based on the specified coordinates, the onboard computer calculates the trajectory, the stage is oriented forward in blocks and acceleration to the required speed occurs. The stage unfolds and one warhead separates, usually downward relative to the trajectory at an angle of 90 degrees. In the event that the detachable block is in the field of action of one of the nozzles, it overlaps. The three remaining working nozzles begin to turn the combat stage. This reduces the impact on the orientation of the combat unit of the propulsion system, which increases accuracy. After orientation in the course of flight, the cycle for the next warhead begins - acceleration, turn and separation. This procedure is repeated for all warheads. Depending on the distance of the launch area from the target and the trajectory of the missile, the warheads reach the target in 15-40 minutes after the launch of the missile.

Up to 8 warheads can be placed in the combat compartment W88 with a capacity of 475 kt or up to 14 W76 with a capacity of 100 kt. At maximum load, the rocket is capable of throwing 8 W88 blocks at a distance of 7838 km.

Missile operation and current status

Missile carriers in the US Navy are Ohio-class submarines, each of which is armed with 24 missiles. As of 2009, the US Navy has 14 boats of this type. The missiles are installed in the mines of SSBNs when they go on combat duty. After returning from combat duty, the missiles are unloaded from the boat and moved to a special storage. Only the Bangor and Kings Bay naval bases are equipped with missile storage facilities. While the missiles are in storage, maintenance work is carried out on them.
Missile launches are carried out in the process of test tests. Test tests are carried out mainly in two cases. After significant upgrades and to confirm the combat effectiveness, missile launches are carried out for test and research purposes (Eng. Research and Development Test). Also, as part of the acceptance tests during acceptance into service and after overhaul, each SSBN performs a control and test launch of missiles (Eng. Demonstration and Shakedown Operation, DASO).
According to plans in 2010-2020, two boats will be under overhaul with the reactor recharge. As of 2009, the KOH of Ohio-type boats is 0.6, so on average 8 boats will be on alert and 192 missiles will be in constant readiness for launch.

The START-II treaty provided for the unloading of Trident-2 from 8 to 5 warheads and limiting the number of SSBNs to 14 units. But in 1997, the implementation of this agreement was blocked by Congress with the help of a special law.

On April 8, 2010, the presidents of Russia and the United States signed a new treaty on the limitation of strategic offensive weapons - START III. Under the provisions of the treaty, the total number of deployed nuclear warheads is limited to 1,550 units for each of the parties. The total number of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic missile-carrying bombers for Russia and the United States should not exceed 700 units, and another 100 carriers may be in reserve, in a non-deployed state. Trident-2 missiles also fall under this treaty. As of July 1, 2009, the US had 851 carriers and some of them should be reduced. So far, US plans have not been announced, so whether this reduction will affect Trident-2 is not known for certain. The issue of reducing the number of Ohio-class submarines from 14 to 12 while maintaining the total number of warheads deployed on them is being discussed.

Tactical and technical characteristics

Number of steps: 3
Length, m: 13.42
Diameter, m: 2.11
Maximum takeoff weight, kg: 59 078
Maximum cast weight, kg: 2800
Maximum range, km: 11 300
Type of guidance system: inertial + astrocorrection + GPS

Warhead: thermonuclear
MS type: multiple reentry vehicle with individual targeting pods
Number of warheads: up to 8 W88 (475 kt) or up to 14 W76 (100 kt)
Basing: SSBN types "Ohio" and "Wangard"

Rockets "Trident-2" / Photo: bastion-karpenko.ru

The US Navy tested the Trident II strategic ballistic missile. The launch was planned, said the official representative of the 3rd operational fleet, Ryan Perry, whose words are quoted by Interfax.

“The missile was launched from the Ohio-class nuclear-powered missile-launched Kentucky submarine at sea at a Pacific test site off the southern coast of California.”

Perry noted that the purpose of the test was to check the status of the missile system "as part of the Navy's strategic systems programs."

The missile was launched from the Ohio-class nuclear-powered missile-launched submarine (SSBN) Kentucky at sea at a Pacific range off the southern coast of California.

The specific direction of the flight is not reported.

As noted by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the passage of the rocket could be seen in the sky over the California city of San Diego. Since local residents were not privy to the plans of the Navy, on Saturday evening the city media and law enforcement agencies received many calls from people reporting a flying comet or an atomic bomb, writes Lenta.ru.

Technical reference

Trident (English Trident - Trident) - a family of American three-stage solid fuel submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Development history

From the second half of the 70s, the transformation of the views of the American political leadership on the prospects for nuclear war began. Considering the opinion of most scientists about disastrous for the United States even a retaliatory Soviet nuclear strike, it decided to accept the theory limited nuclear war for one theater of operations, and specifically, European. For its implementation, new nuclear weapons were needed.

November 1, 1966 US Department of Defense research work on strategic weapons STRAT-X was launched. Initially, the goal of the program was to evaluate the design of a new strategic missile proposed by the US Air Force - the future MX. However, under the leadership of R. McNamara, evaluation rules were formulated, according to which proposals from other branches of power should be evaluated simultaneously. When considering the options, the cost of the weapons complex being created was calculated taking into account the creation of the entire basing infrastructure. An estimate was made of the number of surviving warheads after an enemy nuclear strike. The resulting cost of the "surviving" warhead was the main evaluation criterion. From the US Air Force, in addition to ICBMs with deployment in a high-security mine, the option of using the new B-1 bomber was submitted for consideration.

The US Navy has proposed a strategic weapons system ULMS (Eng. Undersea Long-range Missile System ). The system was based on submarines with new EXPO extended-range missiles (Eng. Expanded "POseidon" ) - the range of the rocket made it possible to release the entire ammunition load immediately after leaving the base, and this program won the STRAT-X competition. The Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States approved the decision of the Naval Coordinating Committee (eng.Decision Coordinating Paper (DCP) No. 67) No. 67 of September 14, 1971 by ULMS. The phased development of the program was approved. At the first stage, within the framework of the EXPO program, an extended-range Trident I C-4 missile was created in the dimensions of the Poseidon missile and the development of a new Ohio-type SSBN. And as part of the second stage of ULMS II - the creation of a large-sized rocket - the Trident II D5 with an increased range. By the decision of the Deputy Minister of December 23, 1971, an accelerated work schedule was included in the Navy budget with the planned deployment of missiles in 1978.

Deployment

Realizing the impossibility of obtaining a new SSBN earlier than the end of the 70s, the TTZ on the Trident I S-4 laid down size restrictions. It had to fit into the dimensions of the Poseidon rocket. This made it possible to re-equip thirty-one SSBNs of the Lafayette type with new missiles. Each SSBN was equipped with 16 missiles. Also with Trident-C4 missiles, 8 new-generation Ohio-type boats with 24 of the same missiles were to be put into operation. Due to financial constraints, the number of SSBNs of the Lafayette type to be converted was reduced to 12. They were 6 boats of the type "James Madison" and 6 types "Benjamin Franklin".

Current state

IN In 2008, Trident missiles accounted for 32% of deployed US nuclear warheads. 14 nuclear submarines carry 288 ballistic missiles. The total number of warheads is 1728, of which 384 are 455 kt each.

Modifications

Trident I (C4) UGM-96A "Trident-I" C4)

General contractor - firm Lockheed Missiles and Space Company.Adopted by the US Navy in 1979. The missile has been decommissioned.

TridentII (D5) (English UGM-133A "Trident II" D5)

In 1990, the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company completed testing of the new Trident-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and it was put into service.

Comparative characteristics of modifications

Characteristic	UGM-96A "Trident-I" C4	UGM-133A "Trident II" D5
Starting weight, kg	32 000	59 000
Maximum cast weight, kg	1 280	2 800
warheads	up to 8 W76 (100kT)	up to 8 W88 (475kT) or up to 14 W76 (100kT)
Type of guidance system