The contract was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Washington, D.C. This contract provides for a base award of $17.1 million for the renewal and upgrade of 352 Mk 14 canisters at the United Defense facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
The contract includes options for the renewal and upgrade of an additional 688 Mk 14 canisters and the production of 439 new Mk 14 Mod 2 canisters. Should all options be exercised by the Navy, the total value of this contract is $104.3 million. Work under this contract is scheduled to begin immediately with delivery of the first renewed Mk 14 canister during the summer of 2005.
"This production contract capitalizes on our work last year and earlier this year to design the modifications required to fire the new Tactical Tomahawk missile from the Mk 14 canister," said Keith Howe, United Defense vice president and general manager at the Armament Systems Division.
"This updated canister design not only adds a new missile to the VLS munitions inventory, it has the added benefit of doubling the service life of the Mk 14 canister."
The VLS Mk 41 missile canisters provide a sealed storage, transportation, and launch container for the wide range of system-compatible weapons. The VLS Mk 41 canister envelope is common to system launcher module standards, while internal mechanical and electrical components are tailored to specific missile shapes and interface requirements. United Defense is the U. S. Navy's exclusive design agent and worldwide supplier of VLS Mk 41 launch canisters.