UK funds study for Aster 30 integration in MK 41 VLS

An Aster 30 missile being launched from Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring . (MBDA)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is funding MBDA UK to evaluate the viability of integrating the Aster 30 missile with the US-built MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS).

In a transparency notice published on 30 January, the MoD said the findings of the 13-month contract, valued at GBP2 million (USD2.7 million), “will inform strategic decisions on future capability development and operational flexibility to reduce the need for separate launcher solutions for different missile types”. The contract is planned to run from mid-February 2026 through to mid-March 2027.

The Aster 30 area air-defence missile is already in Royal Navy (RN) service as part of the Guided Weapon System (GWS) 45 Sea Viper anti-air guided weapon system equipping the RN's six Type 45 destroyers. In this application, it is launched from the Sylver A50 VLS manufactured by France's Naval Group (previously DCNS). The RN is currently upgrading its Aster 30 missile stockpile to the Aster 30 Block 1 standard and is considering procurement of the further evolved Block 1NT (new technology) variant.

While Type 45 will retain the 48-cell Sylver launcher through to end of life, the RN now plans to standardise on the Lockheed Martin-built MK 41 VLS for all future warship classes. Already baselined for the new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, the MK 41 offers a much broader choice of weapon choices – the MBDA Stratus LO (low-observable) future cruise/anti-ship in development to meet the RN's Future Offensive Surface Weapon requirement has been designed for MK 41 compatibility from the outset.