VLS systems - request for information.

[swerve]

I've been trying to find the dimensions & weights of various VLS launchers, in order to satisfy my curiosity about what could fit where, & have had very little success. Basically, all I have good information on are Mk 41 tactical & strike length & Sylver A43 & A50.

Can anyone help? I'd be grateful for either information, or pointers to where I can find it. Anything that's published & reliable. VL Mica, VL Seawolf, Mk41 SDL, Mk 48, Mk 56, any of the others out there - Russian, Israeli, South African - whatever.

Ta in advance.

Paul

[kato]

VL Seawolf

The missile is in a 3.3 m long, 60 cm diameter, sealed launcher-container or canister which weighs 70 kg and is transported to the ship in a transport frame. The canister, which has its own efflux management system, can then be loaded into a missile silo. In the Royal Navy the canisters are grouped into eight-cell modules with a missile firing unit and efflux ducting system. Such modules weigh 3.4 t but 16-round 6 m ISO-standard containers, six-round small modules and even single canister options are available.
(source: Jane's Naval Weapon Systems 2001)

Barak

The Rafael-made vertical launchers are each 2.55 m × 37.6 cm × 30 cm and weigh 110 kg with the efflux conducted from the bottom through two channels to the top of the launcher. The launchers may be distributed individually or clustered around the ship either above or below decks in a similar manner to Seasparrow (qv); each has two missile selection units. The manufacturers state that an above-deck Vertical Launch Unit (VLU) with eight missiles and weighing 1.7 tonnes will occupy a space of 1.8 m2 while a similar below-deck installation will occupy a volume of 4 m3.
(source: Jane's Naval Weapon Systems 2001)

Quadrax (Crotale VT1, Umkhonto)

For the VL-VT1, DCN International has developed the Quadrax launcher system which consists of a metal framework with two-cell modules and four launcher-containers in each cell, rather like the Seasparrow Quad Pack. Such an installation weighs about 1 tonne and is about 3.5 m high. It is 1.17 m² and occupies less than 1.2 m² of deck space, occupying an area 0.9 × 1.3 m.
(source: Jane's Naval Weapon Systems 2001)

I'd recommend the quoted Jane's book (or a newer issue, if available?) for information. It's a bit more general on the Russian stuff, only citing the deck coverage of VLS in m² usually, not much else except functionality and occasional weights. No info on VL Mica in the 2001 issue, as it was only conceptional back then.

Mk56 is a Mk48 repackaged to a 2x6 layout (usually) btw, with launch canister dimensions fitting for NSSM.

[swerve]

Thanks very much. Now all I have to do is find a copy. There isn't one in any of our local public libraries, or the local university library (catalogues are online).

[Salty Dog]

Build Your Own MK 41 VLS Module

Just click on the links below and you can have Mk 41 VLS on your desk in no time. Enjoy!

MK 41 VLS Module (http://ness.external.lmco.com/nessb/cool_stuff/models/index.html)

Print out for cardstock (http://ness.external.lmco.com/nessb/photos/cool_stuff/models/mk41_model.pdf)

[winnyfield]

Seen this?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/systems/mk-41-vls.htm

[Systems Adict]

Have you tried searching here ?

"www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/


Found this....

Sea Sparrow

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/docs/Aim-7p_train.pdf (http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/docs/Aim-7p_train.pdf)


Found this on the net...

http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/missiles.htm


...& This

http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_accueil.php

This is a nice page from MBDA ! If you see the row of 5 boxes in the middle of the screen, click on the right hand side one, it then lists the various Naval missiles they have. Click on the specific missile & a new page loads with lots of data on the missile in question.

Probably just what you were really looking for ?
Pity there isn't a facility like that for other companies products !

Systems Adict :D

[swerve]

Seen this?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/systems/mk-41-vls.htm

That's where I got the good information about Mk 41 I mentioned. :D But thanks for the kind thought.

[gf0012-aust]

Have you tried Janes? They used to have a ref to air defence systems which was quite detailed - but I haven't seen it for a few years.

[AegisFC]

Have you tried James? They used to have a ref to air defence systems which was quite detailed - but I haven't seen it for a few years.

I think you mean Janes.:p:

[Salty Dog]

Raytheon not only builds missiles, they also make guided missile vertical launch systems (GMVLS).

Mk 56 GMVLS for the Rim 162 ESSM (http://www.raytheon.com/businesses/rids/products/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/content/rtn_bus_ids_prod_mk56_pdf.pdf)

Mk 57 VLS for the Zumwalt Class Destroyer (http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/stellent/groups/public/documents/content/cms04_014837.pdf)

[gf0012-aust]

I think you mean Janes.:p:

yeah, that will teach me to type at 7:00 in the morning without washing my eyes out first.... :)

[B.Smitty]

Mk48/56 VLS (http://www.raytheon.com/businesses/stellent/groups/public/documents/legacy_site/cms01_048612.pdf)

[swerve]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. I now have a fair bit of information. What I still lack, & would like, is -

Weight of Mk 41 self-defence length
Precise weight of Sylver A43 & A50 (I have some suspiciously round figures)
Dimensions & weight of Sylver A35 & A70

And I'd be very grateful if anyone knows anything about the packing density of Sylver modules. Mk 41 can, from the photographs I've seen, be packed very closely, with no intervening space. One can see from photographs of Sylver A43 on Charles de Gaulle that there is space between each 8-cell module. Is this a system requirement? Or can they be jammed up against each other like Mk 41?

Hoping someone out there knows . . .

[kato]

As for the space comparison...

Sylver A43, naked: http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/fremm/fremm3.html
Mk 41, naked: http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/f100/f1005.html

Somewhat interesting how, underneath, there are far more similarities than expected.

[swerve]

Those pictures nicely illustrates how Mk 41s are close-packed, but unfortunately one can't tell anything about the possible packing density of Sylver from them. There are no other Sylver modules adjacent to the one being lowered into position.

But agreed, they do look very similar.