Lockheed Martin Debuts Upgraded MK 41 VLS Production Line
March 24, 2016 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Lockheed Martin officially unveiled an upgraded MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) production line at its Middle River, Maryland facility. The MK 41 VLS program supports more than 150 highly skilled jobs in the Baltimore area and will continue to do so for years to come, thanks in part to a 2014 U.S. Navy contract for continued VLS production valued at $235.3 million.
The new production contract allowed Lockheed Martin to design and implement a new, modern production line. As a part of the modernization effort, the team developed more than 80 new tools to optimize production flow and build on the line's more than 30 year on-time delivery record. The modernization became necessary after Lockheed Martin won a contract to reestablish deck and hatch production at its Middle River site after more than 20 years.
"We are proud to continue manufacturing the MK 41 VLS in Baltimore County and bringing this critical capability to the fleets of the U.S. Navy and its allies," said Stephanie C. Hill, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Ship & Aviation Systems business. "In partnership with the U.S. Navy, we have been delivering, modernizing and supporting the MK 41 VLS system for more than 30 years. We, along with our suppliers in Maryland and all over the nation, look forward to continuing to serve our customer with this critical national defense capability."
The MK 41 VLS is the international launcher of choice for surface ships, providing unparalleled flexibility. It is the only launching system capable launching anti-air, anti-submarine, surface-to-surface and strike missiles and can receive orders from multiple weapon control systems to handle every warfighting mission.
The MK 41 VLS fires a wide range of missiles, primarily off of U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers. Since the first launcher rolled off of the Lockheed Martin production line in 1984, the systems have been combat proven with more than 3,850 successful firings worldwide and a more than 99 percent success rate. MK41 VLS has been integrated and in service with the U.S. and 12 allied navies on nearly 200 ships representing 20 ship classes.
On Dec. 12, 2014, Lockheed Martin was competitively awarded a $235.3M firm-fixed-price contract for MK 41 VLS electronic and mechanical modules and related equipment. Under this contract which extends through 2022, Lockheed Martin will produce the launch control units, various electrical boxes and the mechanical structure, and perform final assembly and test. The company is also under contract to conduct repairs, distribute, store and manage spare parts for the MK 41 system for the U.S. Navy.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Suggested Items
KIC’s Miles Moreau to Present Profiling Basics and Best Practices at SMTA Wisconsin Chapter PCBA Profile Workshop
01/25/2024 | KICKIC, a renowned pioneer in thermal process and temperature measurement solutions for electronics manufacturing, announces that Miles Moreau, General Manager, will be a featured speaker at the SMTA Wisconsin Chapter In-Person PCBA Profile Workshop.
The Drive Toward UHDI and Substrates
09/20/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamPanasonic’s Darren Hitchcock spoke with the I-Connect007 Editorial Team on the complexities of moving toward ultra HDI manufacturing. As we learn in this conversation, the number of shifting constraints relative to traditional PCB fabrication is quite large and can sometimes conflict with each other.
Standard Of Excellence: The Products of the Future
09/19/2023 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceIn my last column, I discussed cutting-edge innovations in printed circuit board technology, focusing on innovative trends in ultra HDI, embedded passives and components, green PCBs, and advanced substrate materials. This month, I’m following up with the products these new PCB technologies are destined for. Why do we need all these new technologies?
Experience ViTrox's State-of-the-Art Offerings at SMTA Guadalajara 2023 Presented by Sales Channel Partner—SMTo Engineering
09/18/2023 | ViTroxViTrox, which aims to be the world’s most trusted technology company, is excited to announce that our trusted Sales Channel Partner (SCP) in Mexico, SMTo Engineering, S.A. de C.V., will be participating in SMTA Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum. They will be exhibiting in Booth #911 from the 25th to the 26th of October 2023, at the Expo Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico.
Intel Unveils Industry-Leading Glass Substrates to Meet Demand for More Powerful Compute
09/18/2023 | IntelIntel announced one of the industry’s first glass substrates for next-generation advanced packaging, planned for the latter part of this decade.