The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
Boost Guidance
In 2002, Draper began the planning and technology development to extend the service life of the Trident II (D5) missile’s MK6 guidance system through 2042 under the MARK 6 MOD 1 program. To date, we have successfully achieved all major program milestones, including Preliminary Design Review (Sept. 2005) and Critical Design Review (Sept. 2007), within the contract budget. Additionally, we have implemented technology innovations for improved reliability, system performance, and reduced cost of ownership compared with the current system.
The completed design is now being transitioned to production. Engineering development hardware is undergoing extensive system and environmental testing to ensure the design meets the Navy’s challenging performance and operational requirements. For example, the inertial guidance system must operate without diminished precision in an environment of numerous bursts of high-energy nuclear radiation. The mechanical components, inertial sensors, and electronics must physically survive and quickly recover from the effects of this radiation.
Draper has worked with production teammates, including Honeywell and General Dynamics, by conducting readiness reviews with each supplier to ensure production hardware quality. Draper engineers continue to prepare for early 2012, when the new guidance system is flight tested via Trident submarine launch. As with the existing MK6 design, Draper will provide in-service engineering for MARK 6 MOD 1 after it is deployed.
