The UGM-96 Trident I, or Trident C4, was an American submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California. First deployed in 1979, the Trident I replaced the Poseidon missile. The Trident was intended to have longer range than the Poseidon, allowing the fleet to maintain a longer distance from the target, enhancing survivability. It was retired in 2005, having been replaced by the Trident II.[2][3]
The missile was a three-stage, solid-fueled system, capable of carrying up to eight W76 warheads in the Mark 4 RB.
Twelve James Madison– and Benjamin Franklin-class submarines were retrofitted with Trident I missiles, which replaced older Poseidon missiles. The first eight Ohio-class submarines were armed with Trident I missiles. The Ohio-class submarines were designed for the Trident II missiles, but used Trident I missiles until the Trident II missiles became available.[3]
In 1980, the Royal Navy requested Trident I missiles under the Polaris Sales Agreement. In 1982, the agreement was changed to supply Trident II instead.
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References
- ^ Matthew G. McKinzie; Thomas B. Cochran; Robert S. Norris; William M. Arkin. THE U.S. NUCLEAR WAR PLAN: A TIME FOR CHANGE (PDF) (Report). Natural Resources Defense Council. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ Popejoy, Mary (November 5, 2005). “USS Alabama Offloads Last of C4 Trident Missiles”. navy.mil. US Navy. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Lennox, Duncan (1989). Jane’s strategic weapons systems. Coulsdon, Surry, Eng. ; Alexandria, VA : Jane’s Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0880-2.