MINNEAPOLIS, April 30 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has won a U.S. Navy contract to make launch canisters for Tomahawk cruise missiles.
BAE Systems said in a statement Monday that it had won has received a $31.6 million order to make Mk 14 Mod 2 Tomahawk missile launching canisters for the U.S. Navy.
The canisters will hold U.S. Navy' Tactical Tomahawk Missiles and also serve as secure transport container for them. They will also be designed to easily fit the missiles on to Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for operational firing.
"BAE Systems has been supplying the U.S. Navy with missile launching canisters for battle-proven systems for more than two decades," said Gary Tatge, BAE Systems' launching systems director. "These canisters significantly enhance mission performance by providing superior capability for our U.S. Navy fighting force."
BAE Systems said it made a broad variety of launching system canisters for the Mk 41 VLS. Every canister was constructed with a common external envelope to enable system launcher module interfaces, and the internal mechanical and electrical components were designed to be compatible with specific missile shapes and interface requirements, the company said.
BAE Systems said it was the U.S. Navy's exclusive design agent and worldwide manufacturer of Mk 41 VLS launch canisters.
The Mk 14 canisters are operated on the U.S. Navy's CG-47 Ticonderoga class and the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class warships. The contract may expand to cover $9.5 million worth of extra canisters by July 2008. The canisters will be manufactured in Aberdeen, South Dakota, BAE Systems said.
