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

Program · United States · U.S. Navy

Mark 41 Vertical Launching System

Modular vertical missile launching system for surface warships.

Updated Oct 19, 2026

FieldedU.S. Navy

Awarded

—

Across linked awards

Timeline1

1986FieldedConfirmed
Mk 41 enters naval service

Program and variant milestones. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the Government

Compare platform costs →

Cost figures
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 2
CBO modeled eight-cell module · derivedTable 3 allocates $154M to six modules. Hypothetical shore-site acquisition estimate, not an actual shipboard module quote.	$25.667MConstant 2026 $ · modeled	Costs of a Notional National Missile Defense System (2026 testimony) Congressional Budget Office · figure CBO 2026 notional Aegis Ashore site
R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total.	Not established	—
Unit costs · 2
Contract unit pricePer 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).	$2.156MThen-year $ · 36 units	U.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
Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately.	Not established	—
Quantities · 2
U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.	Not established	—
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.	Not established	—
Operating costs · 1
Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.	Not established	—

Program totals · 2

CBO modeled eight-cell module · derivedTable 3 allocates $154M to six modules. Hypothetical shore-site acquisition estimate, not an actual shipboard module quote.
Costs of a Notional National Missile Defense System (2026 testimony) Congressional Budget Office · figure CBO 2026 notional Aegis Ashore site
$25.667MConstant 2026 $ · modeled
R&D program totalA lifetime program R&D total was not established. Development contracts and shared program budgets are not substituted for that total.
Source not recorded
Not established

Unit costs · 2

Contract unit pricePer 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).
U.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
$2.156MThen-year $ · 36 units
Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately.
Source not recorded
Not established

Quantities · 2

U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.
Source not recorded
Not established
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.
Source not recorded
Not established

Operating costs · 1

Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.
Source not recorded
Not established

Earlier observations · 1

Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.

Earlier cost observations
Measure	Amount	Source
Missile canister production awardContract scope is canisters, not full VLS modules or ship installation.	$22.22MNominal $; source budget basis	Contracts for May 14, 2025: Mk 41 canisters U.S. Department of Defense · figure May 14, 2025

Missile canister production awardContract scope is canisters, not full VLS modules or ship installation.
Contracts for May 14, 2025: Mk 41 canisters U.S. Department of Defense · figure May 14, 2025
$22.22MNominal $; source budget basis

Launcher cells, canisters and missiles are separate purchases

Mk 41 supports several missile families. A canister contract cannot establish a cell, eight-cell module, installed ship system or missile price.

Mk 41 Vertical Launching System product card Lockheed Martin · +1 more

Contracts & purchasing · 1

Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.

Contracts and purchasing
Buyer → seller	Status	Value	Qty	Source
U.S. Navy and Japan → BAE SystemsAwarded April 29; announced May 14, 2025. Mk 29 Mod 0/1 canisters for Mk 41. U.S. share $11,554,499 and Japan share $10,665,691. This is not the price of a complete launcher.	Canister production award	$22.22M	—	Contracts for May 14, 2025: Mk 41 canisters U.S. Department of Defense · figure Apr 29, 2025

International buyers · 1

International buyers
Country	Qty	Status	Source
Japan48% of this canister award, not 48% of global launcher production or a launcher count.	Not verified	Canister procurement participant	Contracts for May 14, 2025: Mk 41 canisters U.S. Department of Defense · figure May 14, 2025

Open research: Current U.S. inventory and complete annual operating-and-support costs require additional public evidence. Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book.

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.