Lockheed to Supply MK 41 Missile Launch System Parts Under $148M Navy Modification.

Lockheed Martin’s rotary and mission systems business a five-year, $147.6M contract modification to provide vertical launching system components to the U.S. Navy and international military clients.

Mark 41 Mod 0 Vertical Launching System on USS Chosin (CG-65) (Picture source: Hpeterswald/Wikipedia)

The modification covers the supply of MK 41 VLS electronic parts designed for the Navy’s DDG-51 and CG-47 surface combatants as well as other platforms of the service branch and the governments of Finland, Germany and South Korea, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

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.

MK 41 is built to store and launch ballistic and long-range strike weapons such as the Tomahawk missile, the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile system and the Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket.

Naval Sea Systems Command will obligate $29.5M in fiscal 2018 and 2019 Navy shipbuilding and conversion as well as foreign military sales funds at the time of award.

Contract work will take place at various U.S. locations through March 2025.