Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:09:54-1:10:45

Tomahawk size and VLS quad-packing

Missile size explains standard-cell packing limits for Tomahawk and the unproven possibility of using larger hypersonic-launch cells.

Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM)Evolved Sea Sparrow MissileMark 41 VLSTomahawk MissileVertical Launch Systems
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Question

Can Tomahawk missiles be packed several to a VLS cell?

Short answer

Not in standard cells as described here; using larger hypersonic-launch cells is raised as an unproven possibility.

Notes

Standard VLS cells are considered too small to quad-pack Tomahawks. ESSM and CAMM provide examples of smaller missiles that can be packed together. Larger cells intended for hypersonic weapons are suggested as a possible way to accommodate several Tomahawks. That possibility remains unproven in this account. The standard Mark 41 system's roughly 24-inch dimension is offered tentatively as the physical constraint.