Vertical Launching System - Definition and Overview

Vertical Launching System (VLS) is a missile-firing system aboard United States Navy attack submarines, and surface vessels belonging to the U.S. and other navies.

Derived from the launch systems developed for ballistic missiles aboard SSBNs, VLS forms a scaled down equivalent for launching the Tomahawk cruise missile. The system enables SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) to carry more weapons, and more significantly, have more weapons ready for firing at a given time. The drawback to VLS is that, unlike torpedo tubes, it cannot be reloaded at sea without a submarine tender or a trip to a submarine base.

VLS launchers have found a role in AEGIS-equipped surface ships on Arleigh Burke, Kongo, and KDX-3 class destroyers, Ticonderoga class cruisers, and Alvaro de Bazán and Fridtjof Nansen class frigates, and on one non-AEGIS class, the Spruance class of destroyers.