Navy to brief industry this month on automatic test equipment for shipboard missile launchers

June 2, 2014
PORT HUENEME, Calif., 2 June 2014. Have an idea for automatic test equipment for the U.S. Navy's MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS)? Then experts at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) want to hear from you.

PORT HUENEME, Calif., 2 June 2014. Have an idea for automatic test equipment for the U.S. Navy's MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS)? Then experts at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) want to hear from you.

Navy surface warfare experts will host one-day industry-day briefings starting at 9:30 a.m. on 25 June 2014 at Ventura County Naval Base, Calif. Briefings will involve potential future procurements involving MK 41 VLS test & measurement equipment.

This system is a shipborne missile canister launching system that provides a rapid-fire missile launch capability against hostile threats. Designed by Lockheed Martin Corp., the MK 41 VLS is aboard U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as well as on international destroyers and frigates.

The MK 41 system can store and fire a mix of missiles, including the RIM-66 Standard, RIM-67 Standard, RIM-161 Standard Missile 3, RIM-174 Standard ERAM, Tomahawk missile, RUM-139 VL-ASROC, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, and RIM-162 ESSM.

Related: Raytheon to replace obsolescent I/O circuit cards in Tomahawk missile communications system

The industry briefings on 25 June will offer presentations by the government, and automatic test equipment and launcher components will be on display. Other launcher component automatic test equipment may also be discussed. This event could lead to procurements as early as this year, Navy officials say.

Those interested should email RSVPs no later than 17 June 2014 to the Navy's Irene Becerra at [email protected], with a copy to Erwin Cablay at [email protected] and Rachel Smith at [email protected]. Put "MK 41 Launcher Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) Industry Day RSVP: in the subject line.

Related: Navy asks VersaLogic to supply Ethernet cards for shipboard vertical-launch missile system

Those attending should arrive at the Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme Site Sunkist Gate to receive badges and entry to the base.

For questions or concerns phone Irene Becerra at 805-228-6299, or Erwin Cablay at 805-228-7903. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N63394/N6339414SNU17/listing.html.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Military Aerospace, create an account today!