The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a new $22 million contract to produce additional missile canisters for its surface ships’ Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS).
The follow-on deal is an add-on to the larger $738 million agreement it struck for Mk 41 VLS missile-launching canisters last July.
As per a press statement, construction of the canisters will be centred on the firm’s main missile-canister production facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with its Minneapolis base providing engineering support.
The company’s vice president of Weapon Systems Brent Butcher commented: “Missile canisters are the connective tissue between the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System and the various missiles that provide sailors the capability needed to deter threats around the world.”
He added: “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 U.S. Navy and allied nations supports our customers in fulfilling their missions of keeping sea lanes open and free.”
The firm has a long-standing history of designing and producing all missile canisters used in Mk 41 and Mk 57 launching systems, including containers that support Tomahawks, a number of variants of the Standard Missile, and Evolved SeaSparrow projectiles, as well as Vertical Launched Anti-Submarine Rockets. These systems have been supplied both to the U.S. Navy and at least ten other allied nations.
- You can read more details on the BAE Systems website