Editing Vertical launching system (section)

{{Short description|Modern system for holding and firing missiles on naval vessels}}
{{For|the Brazilian Space Agency launcher|VLS-1}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
[[File:US Navy 030303-N-3235P-503 A topside view of the forward MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) aboard the guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56).jpg|thumb|An example of modern VLS cells, these being the [[Mark 41 Vertical Launching System|Mk. 41]], on board {{USS|San Jacinto|CG-56|6}}]]
[[File:Sea Wolf Missile Firing from HMS Richmond.ogv|thumb|Video of launch of Sea Wolf missile from VLS cells, on board {{HMS|Richmond|F239|6}}]]
[[File:USS George Washington (SSBN-598) underway at sea, circa in the 1970s.jpg|thumb|In December 1959, the U.S. Navy commissioned {{USS|George Washington|SSBN-598|6}} as its first [[ballistic missile submarine]], making it the first VLS-equipped submarine in the world to use nuclear rather than diesel propulsion]]
[[File:Azov1988.jpg|thumb|The {{sclass2|Kara|cruiser|1}} {{ship|Russian cruiser|Azov||2}} was the first [[surface ship]] to be fitted with a true, 90º VLS. The system in question contained four revolving drums of 48 tubes for [[S-300F/RIF|5V55RM missiles]]]]
[[File:US Navy 050110-N-9851B-056 Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) stabilize a crate containing a Tomahawk cruise missile.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk missile]] canister being offloaded from a VLS aboard the ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer {{USS|Curtis Wilbur|DDG-54|6}}]]

A '''vertical launching system''' ('''VLS''') is an advanced system for holding and firing [[missile]]s on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and [[submarine]]s. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of ''cells'', which can hold one or more missiles ready for firing. Typically, each cell can hold a number of different types of missiles, allowing the ship flexibility to load the best set for any given mission. Further, when new missiles are developed, they are typically fitted to the existing vertical launch systems of that nation, allowing existing ships to use new types of missiles without expensive rework. When the command is given, the missile flies straight up far enough to clear the cell and the ship, then turns onto the desired course.

A VLS allows surface combatants to have a greater number of weapons ready for firing at any given time compared to older launching systems such as the [[Mark 13 missile launcher|Mark 13]] single-arm and [[Mark 26 missile launcher|Mark 26]] twin-arm launchers, which were fed from behind by a magazine below the main deck. In addition to greater firepower, VLS is much more damage tolerant and reliable than the previous systems and has a lower [[radar cross-section]] (RCS). The U.S. Navy now relies exclusively on VLS for its [[guided missile destroyer]]s and [[cruiser]]s.

The most widespread VLS in the world is the [[Mark 41 Vertical Launch System|Mark 41]], developed by the [[United States Navy]]. More than 11,000 Mark 41 VLS missile cells have been delivered, or are on order, for use on 186 ships across 19 ship classes, in 11 navies around the world. This system currently serves with the US Navy as well as the Australian, Danish, Dutch, German, Japanese, Norwegian, South Korean, Spanish, and Turkish navies, while others like the Greek Navy preferred the similar Mark 48 system.<ref>{{cite web |author=Preview ofTable of contents |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/MK-41-Naval-Vertical-Missile-Launch-Systems-Delivered-Supported-updated-02139/#more-2139 |title=Naval Swiss Army Knife: MK 41 Vertical Missile Launch Systems (VLS) |publisher=Defenseindustrydaily.com |date=2016-07-08 |access-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230155943/https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/MK-41-Naval-Vertical-Missile-Launch-Systems-Delivered-Supported-updated-02139/#more-2139 |archive-date=2016-12-30 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[3S-14]] VLS was developed in Russia and is used in sea-based as well as land-based [[Transporter erector launcher|TEL]] systems such as the [[S-400 missile system]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The advanced Mark 57 VLS is used on the {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer|1}}. The older Mark 13 and Mark 26 systems remain in service on ships that were sold to other countries such as Taiwan and Poland.

When installed on an nuclear-powered attack submarine, a VLS allows a greater number and variety of weapons to be deployed, compared with using only [[torpedo tube]]s.