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Successful Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) Launches Demonstrates Continued Readiness of Nation’s Sea-Based Deterrent

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 17-21, 2025) – An unarmed Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missile launches from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) off the coast of Florida. One launch test event Sunday evening lit up the night sky and was visible from Puerto Rico. The four launches conducted from Sept. 17-21 were part of a planned test event which are conducted on a recurring, scheduled basis to evaluate and ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of the system. This exercise validated performance expectations of the Trident II D5LE strategic weapon system (SWS). These test flights resulted in the achievement of 197 total successful missile flight test launches of the Trident II D5 strategic weapon system. The D5 missiles were originally developed in the 1980s, and a life-extension refresh was completed in 2017 to extend the service life of the system to the 2040s. The Trident II D5 strategic weapon system is a highly accurate and reliable weapon system. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)