Country of Origin: United States
Type: Shipborne Vertical Missile Launch System
First Deployment: 1986
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
Missile Compatibility:
Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM): SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, ESSM
Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACM): Tomahawk
Anti-Submarine Missiles (ASW): RUM-139 VL-ASROC
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD): SM-3
Hypersonic Missiles (Future Capability)
Maximum Missile Speed: Varies by missile type (Mach 1–Mach 10+)
Range: Varies by missile type (10 km–2,500 km)
Maximum Launch Altitude: Space-capable (SM-3 interceptor)
Launch Method:
Hot Launch (missile ignites inside the cell)
Cell Capacity:
8-cell modules, scalable from 8 to 96+ cells per ship
Typical U.S. Navy destroyer configuration: 96 cells (Arleigh Burke-class)
Ticonderoga-class cruisers: 122 cells
Compatible Platforms:
Destroyers: Arleigh Burke-class, South Korean Sejong the Great-class, Australian Hobart-class
Cruisers: Ticonderoga-class
Frigates: Canadian Surface Combatant, Spanish F-110, Dutch De Zeven Provinciën-class
Aircraft Carriers: U.S. Ford-class (for ESSM defense)
Land-Based Variant: Aegis Ashore missile defense system
Description:
The Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) is a modular, high-capacity missile launcher developed for multi-role naval combat. It provides simultaneous, rapid-fire engagement of air, land, sea, and ballistic missile threats. The system was first introduced on Ticonderoga-class cruisers and has since become the standard VLS for U.S. and allied navies worldwide.
With a universal launch cell design, the Mk 41 can fire a wide variety of missiles, allowing naval vessels to customize their loadout based on mission requirements. The system is networked with Aegis Combat System, providing real-time target tracking and engagement capabilities.
United States Navy (Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Ticonderoga-class cruisers, Ford-class carriers)
Royal Australian Navy (Hobart-class destroyers, future Hunter-class frigates)
Royal Canadian Navy (Canadian Surface Combatant program)
Spanish Navy (Álvaro de Bazán-class frigates, future F-110)
South Korean Navy (Sejong the Great-class destroyers)
Dutch Navy (De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates)
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (Maya-class, Atago-class destroyers)
