Lockheed’s MK 41 VLS for Type 26
Lockheed Martin has received a contract from BAE Systems to equip the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), the company announced on 1 March.
The MK 41 VLS system is capable of launching anti-air, anti-submarine, surface-to-surface and strike-length missiles. Each Type 26 will be equipped with three eight-cell MK 41 VLS modules. The company’s initial order includes nine MK 41 VLS modules, sufficient for the first three ships of the class.
The new Type 26 Global Combat Ships are replacing the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates. The ships will be deployed for a range of missions from high intensity warfare to humanitarian assistance, either operating independently or as part of a task group.
The first Type 26 is due to enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-Class destroyer]()
Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-Class destroyer
Scheduled for delivery by 2033, HMCS Fraser will be a major surface component of the Canadian maritime combat power.
-
![Ireland orders Thales towed array sonar]()
Ireland orders Thales towed array sonar
Ireland has a large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends 370km (200nm) offshore and contains 75% of the transatlantic subsea cables which carry $10 trillion in financial transactions daily. The country is investing to increase protection and surveillance of these waters.
-
![South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs]()
South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs
HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.
-
![South Korean shipbuilders showcase export ambitions amid ongoing KDDX delays]()
South Korean shipbuilders showcase export ambitions amid ongoing KDDX delays
Hyundai and Hanwha recently unveiled advanced frigate and submarine designs while South Korea eyes new export markets and resolves internal rivalries
