| Country: |
United States of America |
| Alternate Name: |
UGM-96 |
| Class: |
SLBM |
| Basing: |
Submarine launched |
| Length: |
10.39 m |
| Diameter: |
1.88 m |
| Launch Weight: |
32850 kg |
| Payload: |
8 MIRV Mk 4 RVs |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear W76 100 kT |
| Propulsion: |
3-stage solid |
| Range: |
7400 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1979-2005 |
Details
The Trident C-4 is an intercontinental-range, submarine-launched, solid propellant ballistic missile. It was designed as an improvement over the obsolete Poseidon C-3 system, which had insufficient range to threaten the Soviet Union without leaving US protection. The additional range greatly increases the area from which the missile can strike crucial targets, decreasing the effectiveness of anti-submarine forces and increasing the survivability of the missile force. It is equipped with a Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) system that can be equipped with maneuvering systems designed to avoid Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) defenses. The primary contractor in its design was Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Missile and Space Operations.
The Trident C-4 is a strategic asset designed to secure the US nuclear response force against a first strike from the Soviet Union. It lacked the accuracy and yield to destroy hardened missiles silos, but it was perfectly capable to destroy civilian population centers. Each relatively small warhead could inflict substantial damage to areas with high population densities and, if distributed over a large target, completely destroy a large city. This provided a powerful retaliatory weapon, especially when placed on submarines. The range of the system enabled it to operate well outside the range of Soviet submarine defenses, and operate in areas safe from Soviet attack submarines. The natural stealth of a submarine would make it impossible to intercept all the submarines while countermeasures, warhead maneuverability and relatively close proximity of the launch location would overwhelm any missile defense system. Finally, MIRV warheads made the possibility of even a single submarine successfully launching a terrifying prospect.
The Trident C-4 missile has a range of 7,400 km (4,598 miles) and carries a payload of 6 Mk 4 RVs. However, in 2001 the missiles were downgraded to 6 MIRV warheads. The RVs are equipped with a W76 100 kT yield nuclear warhead, each with an accuracy of 450 m CEP. This is achieved using an advanced inertial navigation system coupled with stellar sensors which use star locations to improve guidance. It is likely that each missile is also equipped with countermeasures. Unlike the Poseidon C-3, the Trident C-4 has a third stage which increases the launch weight to 32,850 kg. However, this allows the system to increase the range with only a miniscule increase size, to 10.39 m and 1.88 m.
The UGM-96 Trident C-4 entered service in 1979 following a total of 20 out of 23 successful launch tests. It was deployed on 12 former Poseidon carrying missile submarines and on another eight Ohio-class submarines which were intended to carry the Trident D-5. By 1991, 385 Trident C-4 missiles were in service, with a total of 570 produced. By 1996, only the eight Ohio submarines remained, each carrying 24 C-4 missiles. It was decided in 1998 that four of the submarines would be converted to Trident D-5 missiles and in 2001 that the last four would be converted to carry UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and special operations personnel. The Trident C-4 is expected to leave service in 2005, when the last Ohio submarine will start being refitted.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 613.
Taiwan to Upgrade to Tien Kung-2 SAM
July 31, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Taiwan plans to retire its Tien Kung-1 (Sky Bow-1) surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and upgrade to the Tien Kung-2 (Sky Bow-2), reports Jane’s Missile and Rockets in the August 1 issue. The Tien Kung-1 was developed by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology during the 1980s, and entered service in 1993. It is a single-stage, medium-range SAM similar to the U.S. Patriot interceptor. The Tien Kung-2 is an improved Tien Kung-1 with an active-radar terminal seeker, rather than the semi-active seeker used by its predecessor. The Tien Kung-2 is reportedly longer and heavier than the Tien Kung-1, with a range of 120 km. It is believed to carry a 90 kg high explosive warhead. Jane’s also reports that Taiwan has developed a surface-to-surface variant of the Tien King-2 known as the Tien Chi (Sky Halberd). Based on reports from the Chung Shan Institute, the Tien Chi has a range of 300 km and can carry a 500 kg payload. (Link)
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Britain Backs Off from Replacing Trident Fleet
July 27, 2006 :: The Guardian :: News
The British government indicated on Wednesday, July 26, that it will maintain its existing fleet of Trident submarines rather than invest in a new nuclear missile system. The remarks were in response to a report by the Commons defense committee which chastised the government for not explaining “the purpose and continuing relevance of nuclear deterrence.” The government replied that it “would be possible” to continue operating the existing submarines beyond the original timescale. The submarines were designed to last approximately 25 years, which means they would start being withdrawn from service late in the next decade. The government said yesterday that the vessels could be kept on until the mid-2020s, “albeit with gradually increasing cost and some increasing risk of reduced availability.” The alternative would be to replace the Trident missile system and four submarines, which could cost as much as £25 billion. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Nuclear Weapons
» Missile details: Trident C-4
Britain’s Politics of Trident Replacement
March 16, 2006 :: London Guardian :: News
Richard Norton-Taylor, writing in The Guardian, discusses the politics surrounding the debate over whether Britain should replace its Trident missile system. The British government has promised an “open debate” on the issue, yet has rejected requests under the Freedom of Information Act to disclose studies on the costs involved. It has also argued that it is not in the public interest to publish official assessments about what threats the Trident missiles could deter. To complicate matters, the Ministry of Defense is currently refusing to appear before a Commons inquiry into the matter.
Sir Michael Quinlan, a former permanent secretary at the MoD in the 1980s and 1990s, recently appeared before the Commons Defense Committee, stating his view that the cost of maintaining the Trident missiles was “simply too much to pay.” However, Quinlin noted that it would be “very difficult” politically for any government to abandon Britain’s nuclear weapons as long as France had them. “To leave the French as the only people with this, I think, would twitch a lot of very fundamental historical nerves,” he said. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Trident C-4
