The Trident II D5LE ballistic missile is launched underwater from submarines and provides a survivable response to aggression. The Navy’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive Strategic Systems Programs supplies the highly accurate and reliable weapon system to U.S. forces.
The Measurement Science and Technology Laboratory at Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division controls and certifies the specialized tools used during missile assembly. Known as special interface gages, the tools verify the form, fit and function of individual components against exact technical requirements.
“Every single component from every manufacturer is built correctly thanks to these gages,” said Michael Pierce, NSWC Corona’s Weapons Interface Assessment branch manager. “The work that we do here guarantees that those weapons will work as they’re intended every single time.”
NSWC Corona manages the gages and sends them to defense industry companies that manufacture and assemble Trident missiles. Their mandatory use allows the Navy to confirm that components produced across the industrial base meet its dimensional and performance requirements.
The measurements ensure that each missile part has the precise shape and size needed for installation and operation aboard a submarine. That standard applies at tolerances measured in millionths of an inch.
“We have engineers that design these highly specialized tools,” Pierce said. “They are certified against the nation’s highest measurement standards to guarantee their precision.”
The laboratory’s role extends beyond the Trident program to weapons used throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. Its work covers systems ranging from pistols to hypersonic missiles and equipment from handheld calipers to computerized coordinate measuring machines.
“Nearly every weapon system deployed by sailors and Marines relies on Navy special interface gages to ensure peak operational readiness,” Pierce said. The laboratory’s calibration work gives sailors and Marines confidence that their equipment will operate as designed when deployed.
