Vertical Launching System

A Vertical Launching System ( VLS short ) is a system that can be booted from both submarines as well as by surface warships with missiles. The rockets in the upright position in start tubes.

Development and use of

Originally developed in order to start the huge intercontinental ballistic missiles of SSBNs can, a reduced VLS is now available on many ships, with the example, cruise missiles of the type BGM -109 Tomahawk or anti-aircraft missiles can be launched. The big advantage over other systems here is the higher rate of fire (all missiles can be fired very quickly in succession). However, this also means that a reload on the high seas ( in contrast to torpedo tubes ) is only possible with the help of a tender. Other advantages are the increased damage tolerance and the reduction of the radar cross section compared to Turndown starter systems.

The United States Navy preferred hot launch, the missiles are fired already in the well. Here, a complex exhaust system for exhaust gases and flames is necessary. The counterpart to this is called cold launch and is used by China. Here, the missiles are " thrown " out of the pipe and ignite only in the air their engines.

Technology

The system of the United States Navy, known as MK 41 VLS, can launchers from RIM -7 Sea Sparrow, RIM -162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (Quad Pack, see below) and Standard Missile (short - or medium-to long-range FlaRak ), VLASROC (anti- submarine weapon, the Mk 46 torpedo transported over water to the target area ) to load and fire, through an extension of this range and Tomahawk is considered.

Especially on ships with the Aegis combat system (eg Ticonderoga - class) a VLS is very common; but it is also used on non- Aegis ships. Based on the British frigates of the Duke class, the VLS has now also spread to European warships. Modern guided missile destroyer like the Daring - class guided missile frigates or as the German Brandenburg or Saxony- Class and the Franco-Italian Horizon - class feature VLS for anti-aircraft missiles and cruise missiles.

Western navies are using a system that includes a rocket per cell, while Russia and the People's Republic of China prefer a revolver magazine that contains multiple missiles per bay. The only exceptions are the new ESSM missile in the Western navies, they are stored in so-called quad- packs, making four missiles can be stored in a cell.

Systems and users

  • MK 41 Vertical Launching System: USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Australia
  • MK 48 VLS: Canada, Belgium, Japan, Portugal
  • MK 56 VLS: Denmark
  • Sylver VLS: France, Italy, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore
  • GWS 26 VL Sea Wolf: Great Britain, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia
  • Military technology
  • Missile weapon
  • Weapon system (lake)
Tomahawk (missile) Damage-Tolerance Vertical launching system#Hot launch and cold launch Mark 46 torpedo Ticonderoga-class cruiser Type 23 frigate Type 45 destroyer Sachsen-class frigate Horizon-class frigate Sea Wolf (missile)
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