Draper continues involvement with Trident guidance system
Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory has been awarded a $161.06 million contract modification from the USN Strategic Systems Programs office, to perform more work by July 2025 on the Mk6 guidance system for the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic nuclear missile.
Draper will provide design analysis, testing, procurement, and manufacturing of circuit card assemblies, interferometric fibre-optic gyros, accelerometers, and material for service life related upgrades of inertial measurement units, electronic assemblies, electronic modules, and Mk6 guidance system-related components.
This work is being undertaken as part of the Strategic Systems Program Alteration (SPALT) of Mk6 Mod 1 guidance systems and Mk6 Mod 1 SPALT material procurements, the DoD noted on 10 February.
Trident II D5 nuclear missiles are designed to be launched from USN Ohio-class and future Columbia-class submarines, as well as from RN Vanguard-class boats.
More from Naval Warfare
-
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.