Euronaval 2026: BAE Systems showcases adaptable deck launcher

A model of BAE Systems' Adaptable Deck Launcher, shown at Euronaval 2026. (Janes/Tristan Sauer)

BAE Systems has showcased both current and future designs for its Adaptable Deck Launcher (ADL) system at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition, held in Paris from 3-6 November.

In July 2023, BAE Systems was awarded a USD 37 million US Department of Defense (DoD) Ordnance Technology Consortium contract to design the Next Generation Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Launch System (NGELS), which uses the company's Adaptable Deck Launcher concept.

In developing the ADL, BAE Systems leveraged its expertise to retain commonality of standards, components, and function with the existing Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) and its missile canisters. The ADL presents two critical advantages over conventional VLS launchers: it can be effectively reloaded at sea while underway, and its reduced form factor enables use with smaller surface vessels and unmanned hybrid fleet systems, said Tate Westbrook, director for business development – naval guns and missile launchers at BAE Systems.

Westbrook told Janes at Euronaval 2026that the ADL's opening enclosure gives cranes access to its inclined canisters. A hatch on top of the deck-mounted launcher provides ease of access for cranes to remove and replace both missile canisters and launch cell adapters with minimised crewing requirements. The ADL provides marked improvements in ease of maintenance and loading speed over the Mk 29 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) currently in service with the US Navy.

The ADL design contracted by the US Navy under the NGELS programme is a four-cell variant, allowing surface combatants to double their ready-to-fire capacity of RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) from 8 to 16 units when employing the ADL's Mk 25 quad-pack canister, all contained within the same deck footprint as the Mk 29 GMLS.