The US Navy has contracted BAE Systems to produce an undisclosed number of missile canisters for its surface ships.
The $22-million contract covers missile canisters for the MK 41 VLS and the continued production of MK 29 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) canisters. Its total value could extend to $317 million if all options are exercised.
Work will be performed at the company’s main missile canister production facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with engineering and program support in Minneapolis.
This contract follows a similar deal for the MK41 missile canisters in July 2024, valued at $738 million.
“These continued contract awards are a testament to the expertise of our workforce in Aberdeen. Their dedication to delivering high-quality missile canisters to the US Navy and allied nations supports our customers in fulfilling their missions of keeping sea lanes open and free,” said Brent Butcher, VP of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems.
‘Any Missile, Any Cell’
The MK41 VLS stores missiles vertically below the ship’s armored deck, keeping them protected before deployment.
Each module consists of an eight-cell vertical launcher that can house and fire a variety of interceptors for different missions, including SM-6 air defense missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and anti-submarine rockets.
While Lockheed Martin originally developed the MK41 VLS, BAE supplies the canisters that store, ship, and house individual missiles inside the system.
US Navy destroyers, like the Arleigh-Burke class, are equipped with the MK41 VLS.
It is also employed by allied navies, including the UK, Germany, and Japan.
Earlier this month, Lockheed and the German company Diehl Defence teamed up to explore the possible integration of Diehl’s IRIS‑T missiles into the MK41.
Trainable Launcher
The MK29 GMLS is a trainable missile launcher primarily used for firing the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.
It is an above-deck launcher that stores up to eight missiles and requires manual reloading.
The MK29 is installed on select US Navy vessels, such as the aging Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
