On July 6, 2023, BAE Systems Corporation announced the receipt of a $37 million contract from the US Department of Defense commissioned by NSPO (NATO SeaSparrow Program Office) for the development and manufacture of a prototype of a new NGELS (Next Generation Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Launch System) fixed-ship launcher for Raytheon Technologies RIM-162 ESSM anti-aircraft guided missiles (Evolved SeaSparrow Missile) Block 2 in the interests of the US Navy and NATO countries.
Firing range tests of the fixed ship launcher BAE Systems ADL (Adaptable Deck Launcher) for Raytheon Technologies RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 anti-aircraft guided missiles (c) BAE Systems
NGELS is a fixed-angle elevation launcher fixed on the deck, based on the concept previously developed by BAE Systems and tested by the ADL (Adaptive Deck Launcher) shipboard launcher, in which the launch of ESSM missiles is carried out from four-shot Mk 25 transport and launch missile containers, which are also manufactured by BAE Systems. ADL/NGELS uses subsystems and interfaces of the Mk 41 vertical launcher to integrate into the ship's weapons systems. For the first time, the ADL was demonstrated by BAE Systems in 2018 in a version with four four-shot Mk 25 TPCs arranged in a row for ESSM missiles.
In the US Navy, the ADL/ NGELS launcher is stated as planned to be installed on LCS ships, new FFG(X) frigates, as well as landing ships and aircraft carriers. Interestingly, for NGELS, the use of ESSM Bock 2 missiles is declared in the variant not only "surface-to-air", but also "surface-to-surface".
The model of the fixed ship launcher BAE Systems ADL (Adaptable Deck Launcher) for Raytheon Technologies RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 anti-aircraft guided missiles at the exposition of the symposium of the Association of the Surface Fleet of the US Navy SNA-2018 in 2018 in Washington (c) DefenseWebTV / Naval News
Video with demonstration of the ADL model at the exposition of the symposium of the Association of the Surface Fleet of the US Navy SNA-2018 in 2018 in Washington (c) DefenseWebTV / Naval News :
