BAE to deliver missile-launching canisters

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has contracted BAE Systems to delivery its missile-launching canisters to support the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System.

BAE says it was awarded the contract to support the Navy along with several other U.S. allies as part of the Foreign Military Sales program. Under the $41.1 million deal, BAE will deliver its Mk 13 Mod 0 Canisters and Mk 25 Mod 0 Canisters variants to the Navy.

The canisters, designed to support the launch of Standard Missile-2, Block II, III, and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile, provide safe storage, transport, and launch capabilities.

"BAE Systems has been supplying the U.S. Navy with missile launching canisters for battle-proven systems for more than two decades," Gary Tatge, BAE Systems Navy Launching Systems program director, said in a statement.

"More importantly, the Mk 13 and Mk 25 contribute to systems that provide critical defensive weapon support to sailors, giving them an advantage at sea and keeping them safe."