A Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) is a series of missile tests conducted by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

and the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. These tests are employed to validate a weapon system (SLBM) and ensure a submarine crew's readiness to use that system. A shakedown operation usually occurs after a refueling and overhaul process or construction of a new submarine. Testing of missile systems allows collection of flight-data, and examinations of submarine launch platforms. The first DASO test occurred July 20, 1960 on the USS George Washington, using the Polaris A-1. Modern tests use the

UGM-133 Trident II The UGM-133A Trident II, or Trident D5 is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space in Sunnyvale, California, and deployed with the United States Navy and Royal Navy. It was first deployed in March 1990, an ...

, launching from an Ohio-class submarine.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) Aerospace engineering Product testing Ballistic missile submarines