Original vintage 1960s Lockheed Missiles & Space Division advertisement for the company's solid-fueled nuclear-capable Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) produced for the United States Navy, which features the USN loading a Polaris SLBM into a "boomer" submarine - "Operational! Just 46 months from scratch, the Navy arms its first Polaris missile submarine"
Dimensions: Approx. 6.5 inches wide by 9.5 inches high.
The UGM-27 Polaris SLBM
The Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fueled nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), and as the United States Navy's (USN) first SLBM, it served from 1961 to 1980.
In the mid-1950s, the USN was involved in the PGM-17 Jupiter liquid-fueled and nuclear-cable medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) project with the U.S. Army and had influenced the design by making it squat so it would fit in submarines. However, the USN had concerns regarding the use of liquid fuel missiles on board ships, and consideration was given to a solid fuel version, the Jupiter S.
In 1956, during an anti-submarine study known as Project Nobska, nuclear weapons legend known as the “father of the hydrogen nuclear bomb,” Edward Teller suggested small hydrogen bomb warheads were possible. A U.S, crash program to develop a missile suitable for carrying such warheads began as Polaris, which launched its first shot less than four years later, in February 1960.
As the Polaris missile was fired underwater from a moving platform, it was essentially invulnerable to counterattack. This led the USN to suggest, in circa 1959, the USN be given the entire nuclear deterrent role, which led to new infighting between the USN and U.S. Air Force (USAF). The latter responding by developing the counterforce concept that argued for the strategic bomber and ICBM as key elements in the U.S. policy of “flexible response.”
Polaris formed the backbone of the USN's nuclear force aboard a number of custom-designed submarines. In 1963, the Polaris Sales Agreement led to the United Kingdom Royal Navy taking over the UK's nuclear role – related, tests were carried out by the Italian Navy, but did not lead to its use by the Italians.
The Polaris missile was gradually replaced on 31 of the 41 original SSBNs in the U.S. Navy by the multiple independent reentry vehicle (MIRV)-capable Poseidon missile beginning in 1972. During the 1980s, these missiles were replaced on 12 of these submarines by the Trident I missile. The 10 George Washington- and Ethan Allen-class SSBNs (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear, aka a nuclear-armed USN “boomer” sub) retained Polaris A-3 until 1980 because their missile tubes were not large enough to accommodate Poseidon.
With USS Ohio beginning sea trials in 1980, these submarines were disarmed and redesignated as attack submarines to avoid exceeding the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty II (SALT II) strategic arms treaty limits.
Lockheed Missiles & Space Division
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC) was a unit of the Lockheed Corporation "Missiles, Space, and Electronics Systems Group." LMSC was started by Willis Hawkins who served as its president. After Lockheed merged with Martin-Marietta the unit became known as "Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space." Located in Sunnyvale, California adjacent to Moffett Field, it operated a major satellite development and manufacturing plant.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace company that employs more than 110,000 people worldwide. The defense powerhouse focuses on the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced technological systems. Serving the U.S. and International customers, Lockheed Martin offers products and services in many sectors such as aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, Communications, and more.
Missiles and Fire Control
The Missiles and Fire control sector provides air and missile defense equipment, and its major programs include the Patriot Advanced capability (PAC-3) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), USMIL Special Ops and more. The MFC sector has contracts with multiple U.S. Government classified programs.
Aeronautics
The Aeronautics sector focuses on researching, developing, and manufacturing advanced military aircraft, and it produces and provides support and sustainment services for the aircraft that they design and continue to upgrade. Some of the most famous aircraft include the C-130J Hercules, U.S. Air Force's F-22 fleet, and the Block 70F-16 for the Royal Bahraini Air Force.