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. The VLS System replaced the Armored Box Launcher sytem that was previously used by United States Navy ships to fire missiles.
Derived from the launch systems developed for ballistic missiles aboard SSBNs, VLS forms a scaled down equivalent for launching cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) such as the Standard missile. The system enables SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) to carry more weapons in addition to their torpedo tubes. More significantly, VLS allows both submarines and surface combatants to have more weapons ready for firing at a given time as compared to other launching systems. The drawback to VLS is that, unlike torpedo tubes, it cannot be reloaded at sea without significant support from ships such as 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. They have also been implemented on non-AEGIS classes, such as the US Navy's Spruance class of destroyers.
