Launch Canisters for the Vertical Launching System

BAE Systems is the U.S. Navy's prime contractor for the design, development and production of all missile launch canisters for the Vertical Launching System, Mk 41.

Today, BAE Systems produces a wide array of launch canisters including the Mk 13 SM11 canister, the Mk 14 Tomahawk Canister, the Mk 15 VLA Canister, the Mk 21 SM11 Block IV Canister and the Mk 22 NATO Seasparrow Canister.

BAE Systems led the allied development of the Quad-Pack Canister, Mk 25 for the NATO Extended Seasparrow (ESSM) missile. HollandseSignaalapparten B.V., The Netherlands, Australian Defense Industries and Eurometaal cooperatively supported the Quad-Pack Canister development for 13 navies of the NATO SeaSparrow Missile Consortium.

The first flyout test of the ESSM missile from Vertical Launching System, Mk 41 using a Quad-Pack Canister, Mk 25 occurred 25 February 1999 at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and the canister entered production in 2001.