Since the inception of our nation’s Strategic Weapons Systems (SWS), Draper has provided the Department of Defense (DoD) expertise in guidance and navigation sub-systems. For over 70 years, we have played a critical role in equipping the nation’s sea-based leg of the nuclear triad with inertial guidance expertise, ensuring the Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) – commonly referred to today as submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) - deployed by the Navy’s submarines are able to accurately reach their targets.
Since the program began in the 1950s, every U.S. Navy-deployed SLBM has been equipped with an inertial guidance subsystem designed by Draper engineers. Nuclear deterrence remains foundational to our national security strategy, and Draper remains committed to being a premiere provider of cost effective, safe and secure sea-based strategic deterrence subsystem solutions.
Historic Solutions Supporting Generations of Strategic Deterrence
Draper has been a critical partner for the U.S. Navy supporting the FBM program since its initial development in the 1950s.
Draper’s role has evolved from design agent to prime contractor and has been responsible for the guidance subsystem of the SLBM from inception to completion. We have remained committed to being trusted partners and stewards of the guidance and navigation subsystems which support our nation’s strategic deterrence capabilities. As we look towards the future, we will continue to focus on supporting the U.S. Navy as a premier provider of cost effective, safe and secure sea-based strategic deterrence capability solutions. From sustaining the current subsystems to supporting modernization to meeting the dynamic and unpredictable strategic environment, Draper is poised to continue its legacy as a trusted partner in national defense for years to come.
Polaris
In early 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower's Science Advisory Committee, chaired by MIT President James R. Killian, recommended prioritizing the development of a sea-based strategic ballistic missile to defend against surprise attacks. This led to the creation of the U.S. Navy’s Special Projects Office (SPO), tasked with developing a ship-launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), later named Polaris. Under the direction of Admiral William Raborn, the SPO solicited Draper’s support for developing the missile guidance subsystem for what would become the first ballistic missile launched from a submerged submarine. Draper’s precision instrumentation was critical to the Polaris guidance subsystem’s development. Q-Guidance, at the time was a new mathematical formulation developed by Draper which shifted data computation to the submarine outside of the missile. This provided the advantage for Draper to be selected by the U.S. Navy to support the Polaris program.
Poseidon C3
Initiated in 1965, the Poseidon C3 represented a significant advancement. It doubled the payload capacity of Polaris, enhanced accuracy, and could deploy up to four low-yield Multiple Independently Targeted Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads across the same range as Polaris A3, each capable of simultaneously targeting distinct objectives. The A3’s increased range, required a reduction in the guidance subsystem’s size and weight. The Draper team provided a smaller, more reliable computer and more accurate, compact gyroscopes, achieving a significant size and weight reduction while enhancing the Poseidon missile’s accuracy. This trend of improving guidance through reduced size and increased accuracy continues to be a goal today.
Trident II D5
The development of the guidance subsystem for Trident II D5, the U.S. Navy's sixth submarine-launched ballistic missile, began in 1981. Draper secured the contract to advance the guidance subsystem with a goal of improved accuracy, driven by data from the Improved Accuracy Program during the mid-1970s. Draper demonstrated that the computing power available combined with a stellar sighting improved overall accuracy.
The newly developed guidance subsystem exceeded its original requirements, providing the U.S. and our allies with a highly accurate and reliable strategic deterrence capability. First deployed in 1990, the guidance subsystem on Trident II D5 has been a stalwart component of the SLBM with a legacy expected to continue until 2025.
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New Solutions for Trident Life Extension
When the U.S. Navy announced plans to extend the life of its D5 missile through 2042, Draper once again set out to update the missile’s guidance subsystem.
The goal was to replace obsolete components at minimal cost while maintaining the demonstrated performance of the existing Trident II D5 missile. The updated guidance subsystem design, developed for the Life Extension program, was a form, fit, and function replacement, with significant modernization “under the hood.” Draper engineers’ updates achieved performance upgrades and modular, upgradable electronics.The program achieved first flight success in 2012, thanks to advanced modeling, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop integration and testing.
Advanced modeling, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop integration and testing contributed to the success of the D5LE guidance subsystem, which was proven during the first successful D5LE flight test in 2012.
Draper holds cradle-to-grave responsibility for the updated guidance system. To ensure consistently high performance in the deployed fleet, we established an enhanced surveillance and sustainment program with predictive and prognostic capabilities, enabling the prediction of failures before they occur and providing timely corrective actions, thus maximizing operational readiness throughout the system’s lifecycle.
MK6 MOD 1 Overview
When the Navy announced plans to extend the life of its D5 missile through 2042, Draper was tasked with updating the missile’s MK6 guidance system. The goal was to replace obsolete components at minimal cost while maintaining the demonstrated performance of the existing Trident II missile. The MK6 Guidance System design, developed for the Life Extension program, was a form, fit, and function replacement of the MK6 system, with significant modernization under the hood. Draper engineers updated inertial sensors, stellar camera and electronics, achieving performance upgrades and modular, upgradable electronics.
The program achieved first flight success in 2012, thanks to advanced modeling, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop integration and testing. As the prime contractor for the MK 6 Guidance System, Draper holds cradle-to-grave responsibility for the system. To ensure consistently high performance in the deployed fleet, we established an enhanced surveillance and sustainment program with predictive and prognostic capabilities, enabling the prediction of failures before they occur and providing timely corrective actions, thus maximizing operational readiness throughout the system’s lifecycle.
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Model-Based Engineering (MBE) Capabilities
Managing the complex Trident II D5 Life Extension Guidance subsystem program required staying within budget, delivering on schedule, and accounting for total lifecycle costs over decades. Draper adopted a modular, model-based engineering (MBE) approach, progressing from concept to design, integration, validation, and more rapidly lifecycle support. This approach enabled us to evaluate and refine new technologies, making adjustments and seeing their impact across the entire system. These capabilities continue to benefit the program today, allowing us to diagnose issues and provide solutions swiftly to maintain a credible strategic deterrent.
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Enhanced Ground Testing (EGT)
Aircraft Pod
The Enhanced Ground Testing Method (EGT) subjects inertial guidance systems to tactical environments, providing early insight into accuracy and reliability before costly missile flight testing. Our experts developed an Aircraft Pod test cell, enabling a guidance system to be flown on an F15E fighter jet wing to gather data. This method tests guidance subsystem performance without launching missiles from ground pads, becoming an asset across many applications. The EGT Method provides opportunities for other external agencies that see the value in representative environment testing for new capabilities.
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Strategic Enhanced Ground Test Facility
The Draper Strategic Enhanced Ground Test Facility in Titusville, FL, will support critical guidance, navigation and control technologies using a new world-class centrifuge and associated environmental test capabilities. This facility will house Draper employees and provide core capabilities in simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and system testing, continuing a ‘test-as-you-fly’ approach for guidance components required in high accuracy, reliability, and survivability applications.
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Solutions Formed from Our Stewardship of Subsystem Expertise for the Sea-Based Strategic Deterrence (SBSD) Mission
The U.S. Navy is modernizing the submarine launched ballistic missile system to ensure the future Columbia-class submarines continue to have the most effective strategic weapon system to achieve sea-based strategic deterrence.
Life Extension 2
The Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2) program will provide future capabilities to pace the threat posed by potential adversaries to our nation’s security. The D5LE2 program allows the U.S. Navy to evaluate all aspects of the system, reallocate functionality, and design additional flexibility and adaptability into the system, enabling faster, cost-effective alterations to maintain credibility and effectiveness in a changing world.
This program offers Draper the opportunity and the challenge to continue as a trusted partner in national defense, on a mission to support the Navy with a guidance subsystem updated anew for the first time since the 1980s. Current Draper research and development efforts aim to enable multiple advanced solutions, ensuring the opportunity to provide cost-effective, credible, adaptable, and effective submarine launched ballistic missile subsystem capabilities for decades to come.
