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Surface Vessel Weapon System
Mk-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS)
 

mk-41 vertical launching system vls standard missile sm-2 sm-3 sm-6 essm bgm-109 tomahawk vl-asroc
04/19
The Mk 41 Vertical Launching System / VLS is a modular, below deck, canister missile launching system that was originally designed for the Navy’s Aegis-equipped guided missile cruisers to provide air threat protection for naval battle groups. The Mk 41 VLS is a multi-missile, multi-mission launcher, capable of launching SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, ESSM, Tomahawk, and Vertical Launch ASROC missiles.

The Mk 41 is capable of firing the following missiles: RIM-66 Standard, RIM-67 Standard, RIM-161 Standard Missile 3, RIM-174 Standard ERAM, RGM-109 Tomahawk, RUM-139 VL-ASROC, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, and RIM-162 ESSM. The missiles are pre-loaded into "canisters", which are then loaded into the individual "cells" of the launcher. The ESSM is loaded in a quad-pack with 4 missiles in one Mk 25 canister. Launcher cells are fitted to ships in 8 cell (2 rows of 4) modules that share a common uptake hatch (exhaust system) sited between the two rows. Mk 41 VLS adopts modular design concept, which result in different versions that vary in size and weight due to different "canisters" in various modules. The height (missile length) of the launcher comes in three sizes: 209 inches (5.3 m) for the self-defense version, 266 inches (6.8 m) for the tactical version, and 303 inches (7.7 m) for the strike version. The empty weight for an 8-cell module is 26,800 pounds (12,200 kg) for the self-defense version, 29,800 pounds (13,500 kg) for the tactical version, and 32,000 pounds (15,000 kg) for the strike version. Originally, one module would consist of five cells and a collapsible crane for assisting with replenishment at sea, but replenishment of large missiles at sea was later seen as impractical and dangerous, and modules with the cranes fell out of use.

Features:
Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
Land Attack/Strike

Manufacturer:
Martin Marietta Corp.
Lockheed Martin (since 1995)

Models:
Mk 41 / Mod.0 - Ticonderoga class CG (61 cells forward & aft)
Mk 41 / Mod.1 - Spruance class DD (61 cells forward)
Mk 41 / Mod.2 - Arleigh Burke class DDG / DDG 51-78 (29 cells forward, 61 cells aft)
Mk 41 / Mod.3 - Brandenburg class Frigate / Germany (16 cells)
Mk 41 / Mod.5 - Anzac class Frigate / Australia (8 cells)
Mk 41 / Mod.7 - Arleigh Burke class DDG / DDG 79-91 (32 cells forward, 64 cells aft)
Mk 41 / Mod.8 - Barbaros class Frigate / Turkey (16 cells)
Mk-41 / Mod.9 - De Zeven Provincien class Frigate / Netherlands (40 cells)
Mk 41 / Mod.10 - Sachsen class Frigate / Germany (32 cells)
Mk 41 / Mod.15 - Arleigh Burke class DDG / DDG 92 and up (32 cells forward, 64 cells aft)
Mk 41 / Mod.16 - Adelaide class Frigate / Australia (8 cells)

Used for:
RIM-66 Standard Missile MR
RIM-67 Standard Missile ER
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3
RIM-174 Standard ERAM
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
RGM-109 Tomahawk
RUM-139 VL-ASROC


In use:
Australia: Adelaide class Frigate (8 cells)
Anzac class Frigate (8 cells)
Hobart class Destroyer (48 cells)
Hunter class Frigate (planned)
Canada: Iroquois class Destroyer (29 cells)
Denmark: Iver Huitfeldt class Frigate (32 cells)
Germany: Sachsen class Frigate (32 cells)
Brandenburg class Frigate (16 cells)
Japan: Asahi class Destroyer (32 cells)
Atago class Destroyer (96 cells)
Kongou class Destroyer (90 cells)
Hyuga class Helicopter Destroyer (16 cells)
Murasame class Destroyer (16 cells)
Takanami class Destroyer (32 cells)
Akizuki class Destroyer (32 cells)
Netherlands: De Zeven Provincien class Frigate (40 cells)
Norway: Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate (8 or 16 cells)
New Zealand: Anzac class Frigate (8 cells)
South Korea: Chungmugong Yi Sun Shin class Destroyer (32 cells)
King Sejong the Great class Destroyer (80 cells)
Spain: Alvaro de Bazan class Frigate (48 cells)
Thailand: Naresuan class Frigate (8 cells)
Turkey: Gaziantep class Frigate (8 cells)
Barbaros class Frigate (16 cells)
USA: Spruance class Destroyer (61 cells)
Arleigh Burke class Destroyer (90 or 96 cells)
Ticonderoga class Cruiser (122 cells)
  
images

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 11
forward Mk-41 VLS (29 cells) aboard USS Laboon (DDG 58)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 12
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 08
forward Mk-41 VLS (29 cells) aboard USS McFaul (DDG 74)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 07
forward Mk-41 VLS (29 cells) aboard USS McFaul (DDG 74)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 09
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS McFaul (DDG 74)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 10
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS McFaul (DDG 74)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 02
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Mahan (DDG 72)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 03
forward Mk-41 VLS (29 cells) aboard USS Mahan (DDG 72)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 05
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Vicksburg (CG 69)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 06
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Vicksburg (CG 69)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 04
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Hue City (CG 66)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 40
forward Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS San Jacinto (CG 56)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 37
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 38
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 39
Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 41
Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Hue City (CG 66)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 44
Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Stout (DDG 55)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 43
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard USS Stout (DDG 55)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 13
aft Mk-41 VLS (64 cells) aboard USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile arleigh burke class destroyer 31

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile akizuki class destroyer 14
Mk-41 VLS (32 cells) aboard a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Akizuki class Destroyer

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile kongou class ddg destroyer
forward Mk-41 VLS (29 cells) aboard a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Kongou class DDG

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile kongou class destroyer ddg 16
aft Mk-41 VLS (61 cells) aboard a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Kongou class DDG

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate 48
Mk-41 VLS (8 cells) aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate 49
Mk-41 VLS (8 cells) aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate 50
Mk-41 VLS (2 x 8 cells) aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate essm 51
a RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate rim-162 essm 53
a RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile fridtjof nansen class frigate 52 essm
a RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard a Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof Nansen class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile anzac class frigate 17
Mk-41 VLS (8 cells) aboard a Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile 18 anzac class frigate rnzn
Mk-41 VLS (8 cells) aboard a Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile anzac class frigate rnzn 02
8-cell Mk-41 VLS aboard a Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile brandenburg class frigate 19
Mk-41 VLS (16 cells) aboard a German Navy Brandenburg class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile brandenburg class frigate 20
Mk-41 VLS (16 cells) aboard a German Navy Brandenburg class Frigate

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile rgm-109 tomahawk tlam 21
RGM-109 Tomahawk launch from the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile rgm-109 tomahawk land attack 22
RGM-109 Tomahawk launch from the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile rgm bgm-109 tomahawk 23
RGM-109 Tomahawk launch from the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Farragut (DDG 99)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile rim-161 standard sm-3 26
RIM-161 Standard Missile SM-3 was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 71)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls rim-161 standard missile sm-3 25
RIM-161 Standard Missile SM-3 was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 71)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls rim-161 standard missile sm-3 ticonderoga class cruiser 24
RIM-161 Standard Missile SM-3 was launched from the Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 71)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile canister load 27
a missile canister was installed into the Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile canister arleigh burke class ddg 42
a missile canister was loaded into the aft Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Benfold (DDG 65)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile canister ddg arleigh burke class 46
a missile canister was loaded into the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Ramage (DDG 61)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile 45
a missile canister was loaded into the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Ramage (DDG 61)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 28 missile
a missile canister was loaded on USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile canister onload
VLS missile canisters were prepared for loading on USS Pinckney (DDG 91)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 30 missile canister arleigh burke class ddg
a missile canister was removed from the Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 55 missile canister arleigh burke class ddg
a missile canister was loaded into the forward Mk-41 VLS aboard USS McCampbell (DDG 85)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls loading crane arleigh burke class ddg 47
VLS loading crane aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 36 loading crane missile ddg
VLS loading crane aboard USS Hopper (DDG 70)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 54 loading crane missile ddg
VLS loading crane aboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls loading crane ddg 35
VLS loading crane

mk-41 vertical launching system vls missile ticonderoga class cruiser 32
a 8-cell module was installed into a Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Bunker Hill (CG 52)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 8-cell module ticonderoga class cruiser 33
a 8-cell module was installed into a Mk-41 VLS aboard USS Mobile Bay (CG 53)

mk-41 vertical launching system vls 34 missile test
1984
 
 
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