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Component · Sea

Mk 41 Vertical Launching System

Modular vertical missile launching system for surface warships.

by Lockheed Martin · First fielded 1986

FieldedComponentSeaFielded1986
Closed hatches of the forward Mk 41 Vertical Launching System aboard cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56)

Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy)

Timeline1

  1. FieldedConfirmed

    Mk 41 enters naval service

    SourcesLockheed Martin

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Used in1

Cost to the government

  • Contract unit priceEstimated
    $2.2M
    Estimate / observation: 2006-04-11 · Then-year $ · 36 units

    Per 8-cell Baseline VII module. NAVSEA $50.6M modification for hardware, design, fabrication and delivery of 36 MK 41 VLS modules (12 per ship for three DDG 51s), completing procurement begun with a $27M long-lead award in Aug 2005: ($50.6M + $27.0M) / 36 = $2,155,556 per module (about $25.9M per 12-module ship set; about $269K per cell).

    Lockheed Martin (via GlobalSecurity.org)

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

In service

First fielded
1986

Sources2

  1. 1.
    CompanyU.S. Navy Awards Lockheed Martin $50.6 Million for MK 41 Vertical Launch Missile Systems for Aegis Destroyers

    Lockheed Martin (via GlobalSecurity.org) · Apr 11, 2006 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “delivery of 36 MK 41 VLS Baseline VII modules, with sets of 12 being installed on each of the three destroyers”
  2. 2.
    CompanyAEGIS, Shield of the Fleet

    Lockheed Martin · Supports: System, System milestone

    “introduction of Martin Marietta’s MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) in 1986”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.