BAE Systems, a British defence, security and aerospace company, has secured a three-year $171m contract from the US Navy to continue providing engineering and integration support for navy’s fleet ballistic missile (FBM) programme.
The work under the contract will focus on the Navy’s Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Trident II D-5 is the sixth generation member of the US Navy’s FBM program, while others include Polaris (A1), Polaris (A2), Polaris (A3), Poseidon (C3), and Trident I (C4).
With a range of over 4,000 nautical miles or 7,360km, Trident II D-5 is a three-stage, solid propellant and inertially guided FBM.
Including during the evolution of the Trident D-5 programme through the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident lifecycles, BAE has supported the programme for about 50 years.
The current design and development of the US/UK Common Missile Compartment forms part of the Ohio Class Submarine replacement programme.
BAE Systems maritime and defence solutions vice-president and general manager Kris Busch said the navy continues to entrust the company with such a critical programme.
"This win is a direct reflection of the commitment our team shares with the navy in safeguarding the nation’s nuclear deterrent," Busch said.
The company’s offices in Kings Bay of Georgia, Bangor of Washington, Mechanicsburg of Pennsylvania, Norfolk of Virginia and the Washington DC area will deliver the contract.
BAE also secured an eight-year $534m contract from US Air Force earlier this year, to maintain the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The scope of the work includes supporting the missile, ground, and launch systems for 450 deployed Minuteman III missiles.
Image: BAE Systems will continue to provide engineering and integration support to the US Navy’s FBM program. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
