U.S. Navy Awards $67.5M Contract to Support Trident II Submarine Nuclear Missile System.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Systems Planning and Analysis Inc. a $67.5 million task order to support the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. The effort reinforces the shared U.S.-UK sea-based nuclear deterrent that underpins NATO’s strategic posture.

According to information published on January 23, 2026, by the U.S. Department of War, the U.S. Navy has awarded Alexandria, Virginia-based Systems Planning and Analysis Inc. a $67,519,083 cost-plus-fixed-fee term task order in support of the Trident II SLBM Strategic Weapons System. The work supports the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs office and includes Foreign Military Sales elements that directly benefit the United Kingdom’s continuous at-sea deterrent.
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An unarmed Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missile is launched from a U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine during a test off the coast of Florida. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The contract encompasses a broad range of high-level technical activities, from systems engineering analysis and risk assessment to strategic deterrent industrial base studies and enterprise data management. These functions are essential to maintaining the operational reliability and survivability of the Trident II D5 missile, which forms the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear deterrent aboard Ohio-class and, in the near future, Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. Designed for precision second-strike capability, the Trident II D5 remains one of the most capable and accurate submarine-launched ballistic missiles in the world, with an operational range exceeding 7,000 km and the ability to carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space in Sunnyvale, California, the Trident II D5 was first deployed in March 1990 and has remained in continuous service for over three decades. It is the successor to the earlier Trident C-4, offering improved range, payload capacity, and guidance accuracy. The Trident II is a key component of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad and significantly enhances the credibility and flexibility of America's deterrent posture. As of 2026, the missile is deployed aboard 14 U.S. Navy Ohio-class submarines, each equipped with 20 launch tubes (reduced from 24 under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), and 4 Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines, each carrying 16 missiles.

The Trident II Strategic Weapons System refers not only to the missile itself, but to the full suite of integrated launch, navigation, control, maintenance, and command-and-control subsystems that make the platform combat-ready. This includes onboard fire-control systems, reentry-vehicle deployment mechanisms, handling and test equipment, and strategic data links. The system is designed for rapid, precise launch from submerged submarines, capable of delivering nuclear warheads to multiple, distant targets within a matter of minutes under combat conditions.

SPA’s contract support plays a pivotal role in sustaining the missile’s technical edge by assisting in ongoing systems integration efforts and conducting detailed performance analysis to validate missile flight characteristics, guidance accuracy, and launch platform compatibility. The Trident II is equipped with an advanced astro-inertial guidance system with stellar navigation updates, which demands continuous technical calibration and algorithmic updates to maintain targeting precision under varying operational conditions.

A notable element of the contract is its focus on "high-consequence event prevention framework," which involves rigorous failure mode analysis and mitigation planning across the missile’s lifecycle, from maintenance to launch protocols. This aligns with the Pentagon's growing emphasis on assured reliability, especially as the Navy prepares to transition to Columbia-class SSBNs while extending the service life of Trident II through mid-century.

Furthermore, the inclusion of "nuclear deterrence mission oversight counsel technical support" indicates that SPA will also contribute to the policy-technical interface, advising on the engineering implications of arms control treaties, strategic posture decisions, and long-term deterrence planning. With arms control frameworks under strain globally, this advisory role is increasingly relevant to ensure compliance while preserving operational advantage.

The U.K. component of the contract reflects the Royal Navy’s continued reliance on U.S.-developed systems for its Vanguard-class submarines and future Dreadnought-class platforms. Trident II missiles deployed on British submarines are drawn from a common pool with U.S. forces, but the U.K. operates its own warhead design and fire control systems, necessitating dedicated "U.K. unique systems engineering and program support" as listed in the contract language. SPA will assist in ensuring seamless system integration, performance validation, and interoperability within the shared deterrence framework.

Other tasks under the contract include technical studies, alteration support, data analytics for lifecycle program management, and integration across key SWS subsystems. The work will be overseen by the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) and performed at SPA’s Virginia-based facilities and designated classified sites.

This contract award reinforces SPA’s critical role in the United States’ strategic weapons ecosystem and highlights the increasing complexity of managing and modernizing nuclear delivery systems amid emerging threats, aging infrastructure, and shifting geopolitical realities.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.