Article Posted on : - Mar 08, 2011

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) off the coast of Southern California. Photo: US Navy

SAN DIEGO (BNS): The US Navy has successfully test-fired an unarmed Trident II D5 missile from the Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) off the coast of Southern California.

The missile was launched last week to certify the readiness of an SSBN crew and the operational performance of the submarine's strategic weapons system prior to returning to operational availability, according to a US Navy release.

Engineers and scientists tracked the submarine and the missile throughout the launch process.

The launch marked the 135th consecutive successful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test flight since December 1989.

Nevada was commissioned in 1986 as the eighth Ohio-class fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) in US Navy. The Ohio-class design allows the submarines to operate for 15 or more years between major overhauls.