Mark 41 Vertical Launch System
Encyclopedia
The Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (Mk 41 VLS) is a shipborne missle canister launching system which provides a rapid-fire launch capability against hostile threats. The Vertical Launch System (VLS) concept was derived from work on the Aegis Combat System
. Refinement of the concept continued through the 1960s and 1970s, and the Mk 41 was conceived in 1976. Originally, the system was only intended to fire the RIM-66 Standard
missile, but after the United States Navy
decided that all VLS had to be capable of firing the Tomahawk missile, with a consequential increase in the height of the Mk 41 to accommodate the larger missile. The first launcher was installed aboard .
The Mk 41 is capable of firing the following missiles: Standard 1 and 2, Tomahawk, RUR-5 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 exception is the ESSM: up to four canisters can fit into each launcher cell). Launcher cells are fitted to ships in 2x4 modules that share a common exhaust system sited between the two rows. 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 impractical and dangerous, and modules with the cranes fell out of use.
The Mk 41 is used by the United States, Australian, Canadian, German, Japanese, Turkish, New Zealand, and Thai navies, along with other nations operating former or US-built vessels.
Aegis combat system
The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin...
. Refinement of the concept continued through the 1960s and 1970s, and the Mk 41 was conceived in 1976. Originally, the system was only intended to fire the RIM-66 Standard
RIM-66 Standard
The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...
missile, but after the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
decided that all VLS had to be capable of firing the Tomahawk missile, with a consequential increase in the height of the Mk 41 to accommodate the larger missile. The first launcher was installed aboard .
The Mk 41 is capable of firing the following missiles: Standard 1 and 2, Tomahawk, RUR-5 ASROC, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles...
, and RIM-162 ESSM. The missiles are pre-loaded into 'canisters', which are then loaded into the individual 'cells' of the launcher (the exception is the ESSM: up to four canisters can fit into each launcher cell). Launcher cells are fitted to ships in 2x4 modules that share a common exhaust system sited between the two rows. 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 impractical and dangerous, and modules with the cranes fell out of use.
The Mk 41 is used by the United States, Australian, Canadian, German, Japanese, Turkish, New Zealand, and Thai navies, along with other nations operating former or US-built vessels.