The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed plans to award MBDA UK Limited a one-year contract to study whether the Aster missile family can be integrated with the U.S.-made Mk41 Vertical Launching System. Valued at approximately £2 million, the effort could influence future Royal Navy ship design choices and improve interoperability with allied naval forces that already operate the Mk41 launcher.
According to UK government procurement documentation, the contract will be issued under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 using a single-supplier approach. The MoD cited the proprietary and highly specialized nature of Aster missile technology and launcher integration as the basis for awarding the study directly to MBDA. The resulting technical report is expected to assess mechanical, electronic, and software compatibility between the Aster missile family and the Mk41 VLS architecture.
The initiative reflects a broader Royal Navy objective to standardize missile launcher infrastructure across surface combatants. The Mk41 Vertical Launching System, developed by Lockheed Martin, is widely adopted among NATO navies and supports a diverse range of weapons from a common launcher. Its modular design allows warships to mix air defense, strike, and anti-submarine missiles, offering long-term flexibility as threat environments evolve.
The study is particularly relevant for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 City-class frigates, which will be equipped with 24 Mk41 VLS cells. While current British warships launch Aster missiles from the Sylver VLS aboard Type 45 destroyers, integrating Aster with Mk41 could expand missile options across the fleet and reduce reliance on platform-specific launcher solutions.
