Korean vertical launching system

The Korean vertical launching system (K-VLS or KVLS) is a hot-launch vertical launching system developed by South Korea to be deployed by the Republic of Korea Navy. It is used in the Sejong the Great-class destroyer, KSS-III submarine, and is scheduled to be added to the Daegu-class frigate. The K-VLS can deploy the Cheongung air defense missile (KM-SAM), Haegung air defense missile (K-SAAM), K745A1 Red Shark anti-submarine missile, Haeseong-II, Hyunmoo-3 land-attack cruise missiles^[1] and even SLBMs.^[2][3]

Korean vertical launching system 한국형 수직발사체계
Type	Vertical launching system
Place of origin	South Korea
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	Republic of Korea Navy
Production history
Designer	Agency for Defense Development
Designed	2000s
Manufacturer	Hanwha Aerospace
Produced	2002–present

Three systems may be referred to as K-VLS.

• The "K-VLS" is comparable in size and role to the strike-length Mk 41 VLS. It comes in 8-cell modules sized at 3.165 m × 2.076 m × 7.7 m.
• The "K-VLS Compact" is specialized for the K-SAAM surface-to-air missile. It comes in modules of 4 cells, sized at 2.9 m × 2.6 m × 4.9 m (length-width-height). Its role can be compared to the Mk 48/56 VLS for RIM-162 ESSM.
• Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines use a K-VLS that has a module size different from either version. Presumably this is a distinct variant comparable in role to the US Mk 45.

A newer version called KVLS-II was unveiled in 2021. It comes in modules of 4 cells, sized at 3.0 m × 2.4 m × 9.8 m (L-W-H). An upsized system with increased exhaust handling capacity, its role is comparable to the US Mk 57 VLS.^[4]

Ships using KVLS

Class	Ship type	K-VLS complement
Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin class (KDX-II)	Destroyer	24 K-VLS
King Sejong the Great class (KDX-III)	Destroyer	48 K-VLS (Batch I) / 16 K-VLS + 24 K-VLS II (Batch II)
Daegu-class (FFX-II)	Frigate	16 K-VLS
Nampo-class	Minelayer	4 K-VLS Compact
Cheon Wang Bong-class	LST	4 K-VLS Compact
Dosan Ahn Changho-class (KSS-III)	Attack submarine	6 K-VLS Submarine (Batch I) / 10 K-VLS Submarine (Batch II)
Dokdo-class	LPH	4 K-VLS Compact

See also

• GJB 5860-2006 - A vertical launching system of People's Liberation Army Navy
• Mark 41 Vertical Launching System - A vertical launching system of United States Navy.
• 3S-14 - A vertical launching system of Russian Navy for cruise, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles.
• Sylver - A vertical launching system designed by DCNS.