BAE Systems to Deliver Missile Launching Platform Canisters to Navy, FMS Customers

BAE Systems’ land and armaments business has secured a 38-month, $42.8M contract modification to manufacture and deliver missile launching system canisters and associated hardware to the U.S. Navy and foreign military sales clients from Australia, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The company will make Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canisters, renew Mk 13 Mod 0 canisters and produce Mk 13 Mod 0, Mk 21 Mods 1 through 3 and Mk 29 Mod 0 canisters under the modification, the Department of Defense said Monday.

The Navy initially awarded a potential $954.5M contract to update and repair Mk 41 VLS canisters for the service branch and FMS customers from Denmark, Japan and South Korea.

Ninety percent of work will take place in South Dakota, while the remaining tasks will occur in Minnesota. The military service will obligate the modification’s full value from fiscal years 2019 to 2020 and FMS funds.

DoD expects BAE to conclude work by July 2023.

VLS canisters function as launch tubes and missile shipping containers for VLS modules.