Vertical launching system

Vertical launching system
The VLS cells on board USS San Jacinto.

A vertical launching system (VLS) is a system for holding and firing missiles on surface ships and submarines used by many navies around the world. Each VLS 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 VLS 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 long enough to clear the cell and the ship, and then turns on 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 Mk-13 single-arm and Mk-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 (RCS). The U.S. Navy now relies exclusively on VLS for its guided missile destroyers and cruisers.

The most popular VLS system in the world is the Mk 41, developed by the US Navy. More than 11,000 MK 41 VLS missile cells have been delivered, or are on order, for use on 186 ships and 19 ship classes, in 11 navies around the world. This system currently serves with the US Navy as well as the Australian, Canadian, Dutch, German, Japanese, New Zealand, Norwegian, South Korean, Spanish, and Turkish navies[1].

The advanced Mk 57 VLS system is projected to be used on the new Zumwalt class destroyer. The older Mk-13 and Mk-26 systems remain in service on ships that were sold to other countries such as Taiwan, Greece, and Poland.

When installed on a SSN (nuclear-powered attack submarine), a VLS allows a greater number and variety of weapons to be deployed in comparison to using only torpedo tubes.

Contents

Hot launch and cold launch

A VLS system can be either hot launch, where the missile ignites in the cell, or cold launch, where the missile is ejected and then the missile ignites. A hot launch system does not require an ejection mechanism, but does require some way of disposing of the missiles exhaust and heat as it leaves the cell. If the missile ignites in a cell without an ejection mechanism, the cell must withstand the tremendous heat generated without igniting the missiles in the adjacent cells.

Diagram depicting a hot launch from a Mark 41 VLS

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.

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 thereby 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.

Soviet missile cruiser Frunze firing a missile from the Tor VLS

American VLSs have the 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 thus it requires exhaust piping for the missile flames and gasses. France, Italy and Britain use a similar hot-launching Sylver system in PAAMS. Russia produces both grid systems and a revolver design with more than one missile per lid. Russia also uses a cold launch system for some of its VLS missile systems, e.g., the Tor missile system. The People's Republic of China uses a circular "cold launch" system that ejects the missile from the launch tube before igniting the engine.

Systems by nations

 Australia
 Canada
 France
 Indonesia
 Italy
 Japan
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Singapore
 Republic of Korea
 Spain
 United Kingdom
A Tomahawk missile canister being loaded into a VLS aboard the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur
 Turkey
 United States

See also

  • List of United States Navy Guided Missile Launching System

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vertical Launching System — VLS Zellen an Bord der USS San Jacinto (CG 56) Ein Vertical Launching System (kurz VLS) ist ein System, mit dem Raketen sowohl v …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • MK 41 Vertical Launching System — Ein MK 41 Startsystem während einer Inspektion Bei dem MK 41 Vertical Launching System (oft …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mark 41 Vertical Launch System — A Tomahawk missile being launched by the United States Navy destroyer USS Sterett from its Mark 41 Vertical Launch System The Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (Mk 41 VLS) is a shipborne missle canister launching system which provides a rapid… …   Wikipedia

  • Système de lancement vertical — Un système de lancement vertical (vertical launching system, VLS) est un dispositif de lancement de missiles utilisé à bord de navires ou sous marins. Contrairement aux lanceurs de missiles anciens, il dispose de plusieurs blocs permettant d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System — The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is a United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency program developed to provide a last line of defense against ballistic missiles. Aegis BMD (also know as Sea Based Midcourse) is designed to …   Wikipedia

  • Sistema de lanzamiento vertical — Un sistema de lanzamiento vertical, o VLS por sus siglas en inglés (vertical launching system), es un tipo moderno de disparo de misiles usado a bordo de submarinos y buques de superficie. Derivado de los sistemas de lanzamiento desarrollados… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Aegis Combat System — The Aegis combat system is an integrated weapons system used by the United States Navy. It is both an integrated single ship system and a ship to ship network. The Aegis combat system is one of the most advanced and most capable defense systems… …   Wikipedia

  • Ship gun fire-control system — Mk 37 Director c1944 with Mk 12 (rectangular antenna) and Mk 22 orange peel Ship gun fire control systems (GFCS) enable remote and automatic targeting of guns against ships, aircraft, and shore targets, with or without the aid of radar or optical …   Wikipedia

  • Close-in weapon system — Phalanx CIWS A close in weapon system (CIWS), often pronounced sea whiz, is a naval shipboard point defense weapon for detecting and destroying at short range incoming anti ship missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses …   Wikipedia

  • rocket and missile system — ▪ weapons system Introduction       any of a variety of weapons systems that deliver explosive warheads to their targets by means of rocket propulsion.       Rocket is a general term used broadly to describe a variety of jet propelled missiles… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”