U.S. Trident Ballistic Missile streaks past a Mexican airliner’s cockpit during recent test

Stunning video shows U.S. Trident ballistic missile streaking through the night sky past a Mexican airliner’s cockpit during recent test amid arms race with Russia

  • A Mexican airbus flight crew shot video from their plane’s cockpit as a D5 Trident II Ballistic Missile flew across the horizon in front of them in September
  • The test took place during a time when competing world powers around the globe continue to flex their military muscle with recent displays of martial force 
  • Trident missiles are designed to be fired from surfaced submarines 
  • The USS Nebraska sub launched at least four missiles from September 4-6
  • The crew on an airbus traveling from Guadalajara to Tijuana, Mexico shot footage of a missile’s projectiles flying across the horizon during twilight  
  • Each D5 Trident missile costs $30.9 million to make
  • Only U.S. and UK submarines carry D5 Trident missiles, according to the Navy 

The crew of a Mexican airliner was recently granted a front-row seat to view one of the United States’ latest missile tests – a dazzling, yet potentially troubling sight to behold as competing world powers continue to flex their military muscle with recent displays of martial force around the globe.

Trident missiles are rocket propelled armaments designed to be fired from surfaced submarines. They shoot into space before fragmenting into multiple separate explosive warheads, which can each fall within 100 yards of their designated target.

The disbursement of multiple warheads makes it harder for enemy combatants to focus their anti-missile defense systems on a single target, making it more likely the intended target will be destroyed.

The USS Nebraska submarine – stationed off the coast of southern California – launched at least four Trident II ballistic missiles between September 4-6, one of which was captured on video by a Mexican commercial flight’s staffers whose plane happened to be in the air at the same time. 

 

The crew of a Mexican airliner was recently granted a front-row seat to view one of the United States’ latest missile tests in September

The crew on an airbus traveling from Guadalajara to Tijuana, Mexico captured footage of one of the missile's illuminated projectiles flying across the twilit horizon

The crew on an airbus traveling from Guadalajara to Tijuana, Mexico captured footage of one of the missile’s illuminated projectiles flying across the twilit horizon

The crew on an airbus traveling from Guadalajara to Tijuana, Mexico shot footage of one of the missile’s illuminated projectiles flying across the twilit horizon.

‘Wow,’ one of the Spanish-speaking flight crew members is heard saying repeatedly as the missile’s components fly by like a shooting star.

The clip shows the Trident missile streaking westward across the sky during sunset. 

It goes through two distinct stage separations during its flight. One of its components is seen falling away as the missile’s third stage, its warhead deployment stage, advances on its westward course. 

The USS Nebraska submarine - stationed off the coast of southern California - launched at least four Trident II ballistic missiles between September 4-6

The USS Nebraska submarine – stationed off the coast of southern California – launched at least four Trident II ballistic missiles between September 4-6

The D5 is the sixth generation in the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile series. Each D5 Trident missile costs $30.9 million to make. Currently, they're only deployed on U.S. and UK submarines

The D5 is the sixth generation in the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile series. Each D5 Trident missile costs $30.9 million to make. Currently, they’re only deployed on U.S. and UK submarines

The U.S. has been preparing to field a new version of the Trident II with more targeted, less destructive warheads amid the nation’s renewed arms race with Russia.

What’s unique about this missile is its reduced destructive force, aka yield or yield – designed to make a more targeted impact while delivering nuclear armaments.

The new missile’s depressed, low-altitude flight path may also help it survive potential enemy anti-ballistic missile defense tactics and increase the missile’s accuracy at the sacrifice of damage, according to The Drive. 

The D5 is the sixth generation in the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile series, which was created 60 years ago, according to the U.S. Navy.

Each D5 Trident missile costs $30.9 million to make. Currently, they’re only deployed on U.S. and UK submarines, according to the Navy. 

North Korea and China have also been testing and showcasing their nuclear arsenals in recent weeks.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk