A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing
missile
In military terminology, a missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles are thus also called guided missiles or guided rockets (when a previously unguided rocket i ...
s on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
s. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of ''cells'', which can hold one or more missiles ready for firing. Typically, each cell can hold a number of different types of missiles, allowing the ship flexibility to load the best set for any given mission. Further, when new missiles are developed, they are typically fitted to the existing vertical launch systems of that nation, allowing existing ships to use new types of missiles without expensive rework. When the command is given, the missile flies straight up far enough to clear the cell and the ship, then turns on to the desired course.
A VLS allows surface combatants to have a greater number of weapons ready for firing at any given time compared to older launching systems such as the
Mark 13
Mark 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It contains Jesus' predictions of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and disaster for Judea, as well as his eschatological discourse.Hall ...
single-arm and Mark 26 twin-arm launchers, which were fed from behind by a magazine below the main deck. In addition to greater firepower, VLS is much more damage tolerant and reliable than the previous systems and has a lower
radar cross-section
Radar cross-section (RCS), also called radar signature, is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar. A larger RCS indicates that an object is more easily detected.
An object reflects a limited amount of radar energy back to the source. ...
(RCS). The U.S. Navy now relies exclusively on VLS for its
guided missile destroyer
A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers who have a prim ...
s and
cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles.
The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...
s.
The most widespread vertical launch system in the world is the Mark 41, developed by the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
. More than 11,000 Mark 41 VLS missile cells have been delivered, or are on order, for use on 186 ships across 19 ship classes, in 11 navies around the world. This system currently serves with the US Navy as well as the Australian, Danish, Dutch, German, Japanese, New Zealand, Norwegian, South Korean, Spanish, and Turkish navies, while others like the Greek Navy preferred the similar Mark 48 system.
The advanced Mark 57 vertical launch system is used on the . The older Mark 13 and Mark 26 systems remain in service on ships that were sold to other countries such as Taiwan and Poland.
When installed on an SSN (nuclear-powered attack submarine), a VLS allows a greater number and variety of weapons to be deployed, compared with using only
torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a cylindrical device for launching torpedoes.
There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units (also referred to as torpedo launchers) installed aboa ...
s.
Launch type
A vertical launch system can be either ''hot launch'', where the missile ignites in the cell, or ''cold launch'', where the missile is expelled by gas produced by a
gas generator
A gas generator is a device for generating gas. A gas generator may create gas by a chemical reaction or from a solid or liquid source, when storing a pressurized gas is undesirable or impractical.
The term often refers to a device that uses a ...
which is not part of the missile itself, and then the missile ignites. "Cold" means ''relatively'' cold compared with rocket engine exhaust. A hot launch system does not require an ejection mechanism but does require some way of disposing of the missile's exhaust and heat as it departs the cell. If the missile ignites in a cell without an ejection mechanism, the cell must withstand the tremendous heat generated without igniting missiles in adjacent cells.
Hot launch
An advantage of a hot-launch system is that the missile propels itself out of the launching cell using its own engine, which eliminates the need for a separate system to eject the missile from the launching tube. This potentially makes a hot-launch system relatively light, small, and economical to develop and produce, particularly when designed around smaller missiles. A potential disadvantage is that a malfunctioning missile could destroy the launch tube. American surface-ship VLSs have missile cells arranged in a grid with one lid per cell and are "hot launch" systems. The engine ignites within the cell during the launch and so requires a way of venting rocket exhaust. France, Italy and Britain use a similar hot-launching
Sylver
The Sylver (SYstème de Lancement VERtical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) designed by DCNS and introduced in 2001.
Specifications
The basic unit of Sylver VLS is an eight-cell module fitted with two rows of 56 cm. missile cells surroundi ...
system in
PAAMS
The Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a joint programme developed by France, Italy, and the United Kingdom for an integrated anti-aircraft warfare system. The prime contractor is EUROPAAMS, a joint venture between Eurosam (66%) and ...
.
Cold launch
The advantage of the cold-launch system is in its safety: should a missile engine malfunction during launch, the cold-launch system can eject the missile, reducing or eliminating the threat. For this reason, Russian VLSs are often designed with a slant so that a malfunctioning missile will land in the water instead of on the ship's deck. As missile size grows, the benefits of ejection launching increase. Above a certain size, a missile booster cannot be safely ignited within the confines of a ship's hull. Most modern
ICBM
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons c ...
s and
SLBM
A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from Ballistic missile submarine, submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of whic ...
s are cold-launched.
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
produces both grid systems and a
revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
arrangement with more than one missile per lid for its cold launch system.
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
also uses a cold launch system for some of its vertical launch missile systems, e.g., the
Tor missile system
The Tor (russian: Тор; en, torus) is an all-weather, low- to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for destroying airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and short-range ballistic thre ...
.
Concentric canister launch
Some warships of China's
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN; ), also known as the People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy, is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army.
The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chinese ...
use a concentric canister launch (CCL) system that can launch using both hot and cold methods, onboard the
Type 052D destroyer
The Type 052D destroyer (NATO/ OSD Luyang III-class destroyer) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The Type 052D is a larger variant of the Type 052C; the Type 052D uses a canister-type, instead ...
and the
Type 055 destroyer
The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/ OSD Renhai-class cruiser) is a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers (guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard) being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It is a multi-mission desig ...
. The universal launch system is offered for export.
Older Chinese ships use single launch system:
Type 052C destroyer
The Type 052C destroyer (NATO/Office of the Secretary of Defense, OSD Luyang II-class destroyer) is a ship class, class of guided-missile destroyers in the China, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052C introduc ...
s, for example, use a cold launch system;
Type 054A frigate
The Type 054A (NATO/ OSD Jiangkai II) is a class of guided-missile frigate from the People's Republic of China. It is a development of the Type 054 frigate; compared to its predecessor, the Type 054A has medium-range air defense capability in th ...
s, a hot launch system.
Other platforms
Transporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles.
History
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-su ...
s are wheeled or tracked land vehicles for the launch of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles. In most systems the missiles are transported in a horizontal out-of-battery configuration: in order to fire, the vehicle must stop and the transport/launch tube must be raised to the vertical before firing.
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
has filed patents relating to the use of Vertical Launch missiles from modified passenger aircraft.
Systems in use by nations
NATO
In 2021, the Centre for Military Studies published the total number of VLS cells in use with fourteen NATO navies. The results are displayed below.
Note: The above table does not include NATO navies which do not possess vertical launching systems, namely Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.
Type 23 frigate
The Type 23 frigate or Duke class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke class. The first Type 23, , was commission ...
– GWS.26 (32 cells)
* – Mark 41 Mod 16 (8 cells)
;
;Surface
*
Type 055 destroyer
The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/ OSD Renhai-class cruiser) is a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers (guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard) being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It is a multi-mission desig ...
– Concentric Canister Launch System (112 cells)
*
Type 052D destroyer
The Type 052D destroyer (NATO/ OSD Luyang III-class destroyer) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The Type 052D is a larger variant of the Type 052C; the Type 052D uses a canister-type, instead ...
– Concentric Canister Launch System (64 cells)
*
Type 052C destroyer
The Type 052C destroyer (NATO/Office of the Secretary of Defense, OSD Luyang II-class destroyer) is a ship class, class of guided-missile destroyers in the China, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052C introduc ...
– H/AJK03
HHQ-9
The HQ-9 () is a long-range semi-active radar homing (SARH) surface-to-air missile (SAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. The naval variant is the HHQ-9 ().
Description
The HQ-9 is a derivative of the Russian S-300. Justin Bronk d ...
Type 051B destroyer
The Type 051B destroyer (NATO reporting name: Luhai class) is a class of destroyer built by the People's Republic of China. It consists of only one ship, ''Shenzhen'' (167). When ''Shenzhen'' was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army N ...
– H/AJK16
HQ-16
The HQ-16 () is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.
Development
Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the A ...
HQ-16
The HQ-16 () is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.
Development
Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the A ...
Type 054A frigate
The Type 054A (NATO/ OSD Jiangkai II) is a class of guided-missile frigate from the People's Republic of China. It is a development of the Type 054 frigate; compared to its predecessor, the Type 054A has medium-range air defense capability in th ...
– H/AJK16
HQ-16
The HQ-16 () is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.
Development
Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the A ...
SYLVER
The Sylver (SYstème de Lancement VERtical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) designed by DCNS and introduced in 2001.
Specifications
The basic unit of Sylver VLS is an eight-cell module fitted with two rows of 56 cm. missile cells surroundi ...
Barak 1
Barak ( he, ברק, '' lightning'') is an Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to be used as a ship-borne point-defense missile system against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.
Overview
The Barak SAM system is designed to replac ...
(16 cells)
* –
Barak 1
Barak ( he, ברק, '' lightning'') is an Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to be used as a ship-borne point-defense missile system against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.
Overview
The Barak SAM system is designed to replac ...
(24 cells) and Barak 8
* – Barak 8/Barak 1 (32 cells) and
BrahMos
The BrahMos (also designated as PJ-10)Club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises ...
or BrahMos (8 cells) and Barak 1 (32 cells)
* – Club or BrahMos (8 cells)
* – Barak 1 (24 cells)
* – Barak 1 (24 cells)
* – Barak 1 (16 cells)
;Submarine
* – K-4 or K-15 (8 cells)
;
* ''Shahid Soleimani''-class corvette –
Mehrab
Mihrab ( ar, محراب, ', pl. ') is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the ''qibla'', the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a ''mihrab'' appears is thus the "qibla ...
Barak 1
Barak ( he, ברק, '' lightning'') is an Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to be used as a ship-borne point-defense missile system against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.
Overview
The Barak SAM system is designed to replac ...
(2 x 32 cells)
;
* – Mark 41 (16 cells)
* – Mark 41 (90 cells)
* – Mark 41 (96 cells)
* – Mark 41 (96 cells)
* – Mark 41 (16 cells) + Mark 48 (16 cells)
* – Mark 41 (32 cells)
* – Mark 41 (32 cells)
* – Mark 41 (32 cells)
* - Mark 41 (16 cells)
* - Mark 41 (8 cells)
;
*
Lekiu-class frigate
The ''Lekiu''-class frigates are a class of frigates of the Royal Malaysian Navy. They are the largest and most modern surface combatants of the Royal Malaysian Navy, until the ''Maharaja Lela''-class frigates are completed. The class comprise ...
SYLVER
The Sylver (SYstème de Lancement VERtical) is a vertical launching system (VLS) designed by DCNS and introduced in 2001.
Specifications
The basic unit of Sylver VLS is an eight-cell module fitted with two rows of 56 cm. missile cells surroundi ...
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
Kalibr
The 3M-54 Kalibr, (Калибр, caliber), also referred to it as 3M54-1 Kalibr, 3M14 Biryuza (Бирюза, turquoise), ( NATO reporting name SS-N-27 Sizzler and SS-N-30A) is a family of Russian cruise missiles developed by the Novator Design ...
or
BrahMos
The BrahMos (also designated as PJ-10)3S90M for 9M317M (24 cells)
* – 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks (16 cells) + Redut system for different type of missiles (32 cells)
* – 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks (8 cells)
* – Redut (12 cells)
* – Redut (2 x 8 cells) + 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks ( 8 cells)
* Buyan-M-class corvette – 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks (8 cells)
*
Karakurt-class corvette
The Karakurt class, Russian designation Project 22800 ''Karakurt'' (russian: Каракурт, , Latrodectus tredecimguttatus European Black Widow), is a new class of Russian corvettes (small missile ships in Russian classification) which have b ...
– 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks (8 cells)
* Project 22160E patrol ship – 3S14 for Kalibr or Oniks (8 cells)
* Korsar escort ship – 3S14 for Kalibr (8 cells)
;Submarine
* Amur 950 – 3S14 for Kalibr or BrahMos (10 cells)
*
Oscar-class submarine
The Oscar class, Soviet designations Project 949 ''Granit'' and Project 949A ''Antey'', (NATO reporting names Oscar I and Oscar II respectively), are a series of nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines designed in the Soviet Union for the Sov ...
RPK-2 Vyuga
The RPK-2 Vyuga (, ''blizzard''; NATO reporting name: SS-N-15 Starfish), also designated as 81R, is a Soviet submarine-launched, nuclear-armed anti-submarine missile system, launched exclusively through torpedo tubes. The system was designed in ...
(28 cells)
* Yasen-M – 3S14 for Kalibr (40 cells) or Oniks (32 cells)
*
Typhoon-class submarine
The Typhoon class, Soviet designation Project 941 ''Akula'' (russian: Акула, meaning "shark", NATO reporting name Typhoon), is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines designed and built by the Soviet Union for the Soviet ...
–
R-39 Rif
The R-39 Rif (NATO reporting name: SS-N-20 ''Sturgeon''; bilateral arms control designation: RSM-52) was a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that served with the Soviet Navy from its introduction in 1983 until 1991, after which it ser ...
(20 cells)
*
Delta III-class submarine
The Delta III-class submarine, Soviet designation Project 667BDR ''Kaľmar'' (Squid), is a large ballistic missile submarine operated by the Russian Navy. Like other previous s, the Delta III class is a double hulled design, with a thin low magne ...
Delta IV-class submarine
The Delta class, (Russian: Дельта) Soviet designations Project 667B ''Murena'', Project 667BD ''Murena-M'', Project 667BDR ''Kalmar'', Project 667BDRM ''Delfin'', ( NATO reporting names Delta I, Delta II, Delta III, Delta IV respectively ...
–
R-29RMU Sineva
The R-29RMU2 Sineva (russian: Синева, lit. " blueness"), code RSM-54, is a Russian liquid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile with GRAU index 3M27, designation SS-N-23A Skiff. It can carry four warheads and is designed to be launch ...
Borei-class submarine
The Borei class, alternate transliteration Borey, Russian designation Project 955 ''Borei'' and Project 955A ''Borei-A'' (russian: Борей, , Boreas, NATO reporting name Dolgorukiy), are a series of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submari ...
Korean Vertical Launching System The Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS or KVLS) is a vertical launch weapon system developed by South Korea to be deployed by the Republic of Korea Navy. It is used in the Sejong the Great-class destroyer, and is scheduled to be added to the ...
List of United States Navy Guided Missile Launching Systems The Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) is a device for launching guided missiles, and is found on many U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight unifor ...
*
XM501 Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System
The Non-Line of Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS) was a self-contained missile launcher system that was under development by NETFIRES LLC, a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Each Container Launch Unit (CLU) holds 15 missiles, and a ...
Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is an American nonprofit global policy think tank with the stated intent of using science and scientific analysis to attempt to make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1946 by scientists who wo ...