BAE Systems‘ U.S. subsidiary will provide the U.S. Navy with additional Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canisters under a $52.9 million modification to a five-year contract awarded in 2013.
The company said Monday the VLS canisters are used as missile containers for shipping and storage needs and support the launch of missiles from Navy vessels.
“We have a long history with the VLS canister program, ” said Chris Hughes, vice president and general manager of weapon systems at BAE Systems.
BAE Systems noted its 30-plus years of work in the development and production of VLS.
The canisters work to contain rocket motor exhaust and provide support for the identification and firing of missiles such as Raytheon‘s (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-3,  Seasparrow and Tomahawk.
According to BAE, it will perform work under the contract modification at facilities in South Dakota and Minnesota through June 2017.
