MBDA to Study Aster 30 Missile Integration with MK 41 VLS Under UK MoD Contract

By ASR Newsdesk · 9 Nov 2026, 18:00 UTC

MBDA has secured a £1.86 million, 10-month contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to assess the integration of the Aster 30 surface-to-air missile with the Lockheed Martin MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS). The study aims to inform future capability development and operational flexibility by exploring the potential for a single launcher solution for multiple missile types. This initiative aligns with the Royal Navy's plan to standardize on the MK 41 VLS for future surface ship classes, which is already widely used by allied navies.