US Navy confirms Trident II test launch.

By. Scott Jackson

---

09/23/2025

Today the U.S. Navy confirmed the suspected launch of one of its Submarine launched Trident II Life Extension Program (D5LE) Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) from an Ohio-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine off the east coast of Florida.

On Sunday September 19th, the night sky in Puerto Rico were lit up as the launch could be seen from the Caribbean island.

This launch was apart of a preplanned set of launches to evaluate and ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of the system. The navy statement also added that this launch was not done as a response to any ongoing world events. It’s likely the proximity to Venezuela prompted that last part of the statement.

These test launches make 197 total successful test launches of the Trident II D5 strategic weapon system. First developed in the 1980’s the system went through a refresh in 2017 to extend the service life of the missiles into the 2040’s according to the Navy.

The test flights were launched from a submerged Ohio-Class SSBN submarine in the Atlantic Ocean and the missiles landed in the Atlantic Ocean. Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) were issued identifying no-fly zones and Notice to Mariners (NOTMARs) were issued to sea-going vessels identifying stay-out areas for the pre-scheduled test period.

The view of the launch frim the Atlantic was caught on camera from people filming in Puerto Rico.

Footage tonight from all over Puerto Rico captured the launch of what is believed to be a UGM-133 Trident II Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) from either a U.S. or Royal Navy nuclear-powered ballistic submarine in the Northern Atlantic. No statement regarding any test… pic.twitter.com/j7KhgRyF0K

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 22, 2025

“Our Nation’s submarine launched ballistic missile system has been a critical component of our national security since the 1960s, and these launches continue to demonstrate the credibility and reliability of our strategic deterrence capabilities,” 

-Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe, Director of the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs

These missile are one part of the Nuclear weapons deterrence programs run by the U.S. military. The stealth of the SSBN fleet gives the U.S. the ability to always carry out a second strike should the United States ever come under nuclear attack. Apart from the submarines the other parts of the nuclear deterrence program known as the nuclear triads are made up of the nations fleet of strategic bombers like the B-2 Spirit and B-52H Stratofortress. The last leg of the triad is the ICBM silos in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.