Lockheed Martin to continue building MK41 VLS
LOCKHEED Martin will continue building MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for the US Navy under a $235 million contract award announced on 15 December.
Options could see the value of the contract rise to $356 million.
Lockheed Martin will continue production of launch control units, various electrical boxes and the mechanical structure and perform final assembly and test, through to 2022.
The company will also conduct repairs, distribute, store and manage spare parts for the MK 41 system for the US Navy.
The VLS is carried by US Navy cruisers and destroyers. The system can simultaneously accommodate the weapon control system and the missiles of every warfighting mission area, including anti-aircraft, anti-surface, anti-submarine and land attack and accepts any missile into any cell.
Joe North, vice president of littoral ships and systems, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘We are proud to continue building these launchers and bring this significant capability to the US Navy for its critical missions as we have for 32 years. The fact that the VLS can launch any type of missile from any cell brings unparalleled flexibility in addressing threats from land, air and sea.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.
-
New deal to make AUKUS cooperation easier
The AUKUS agreement will support Australia’s purchase of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under pillar one. Other pillars of the agreement cover high technology such as cyber, unmanned systems, AI, EW, undersea capabilities and information sharing between the three countries.