Our Contribution
While missile defense tests and system design are critical to maintaining U.S. security, other key capabilities lie in APL’s behind-the-scenes work on the nation’s strategic deterrent. This work includes the Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO), a critical element in certifying submarine-launched ballistic missile systems that ensures the readiness of both the systems and the crews that will operate them. APL’s start-to-finish DASO involvement extends from preflight assessments to data processing and analysis. APL supported a DASO for the USS Louisiana that certified the Trident II missile system’s operational readiness. Preflight assessments and the flight test from Louisiana occurred in 2023, and full evaluation of the operation and system performance was completed in 2024. APL’s decades of experience in supporting DASOs have been instrumental in maintaining the readiness of these vital missile systems, ensuring that the U.S. continues to exercise strategic deterrence globally.
