United States, July 10 -- Lockheed Martin has been awarded an $850 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to continue design and development of the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2) program - a critical piece of the nation's nuclear triad. The U.S. Department of War announced the award in April.The Trident II D5 strategic weapon system remains a cornerstone of U.S. deterrence, recognized for its accuracy, reliability and operational performance. Originally developed in the 1980s and modernized through a life extension effort completed in 2017, the system is being further advanced to ensure its effectiveness into the 2040s and beyond. WHY IT MATTERSSubmarine-launched ballistic missiles are the sea-based leg of the nation's nuc...