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NSWC Port Hueneme Hosts International VLS Forum

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100408-18
Release Date: 4/8/2010 3:42:00 PM

From Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Command Communications

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme hosted an international forum on the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with nine allied nations March 23-25.

During the event, NSWC Port Hueneme, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, expanded on existing cooperative relationships with international partners by providing allied VLS users with access to the latest technology in logistics and in-service engineering.

"This forum allowed VLS users to focus on their current issues, and discuss lessons learned with our system experts," said Gerald Stutts, NSWC Port Hueneme Launching Systems Project Office manager. "Having these annual discussions should result in more efficient, effective ways to control VLS total ownership costs, and maintain the system to the highest capability level."

"This conference helps us all work together to share the latest information for maintenance issues," said Cmdr. Shinya Akao, Japanese Maritime Service Defense Force Technical Liaison officer.

NSWC Port Hueneme has hosted similar events for 20 years. This year's forum marked the thirteenth year international VLS system users have participated.

Foreign Navy participants included: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Turkey. Denmark was not in attendance, but has procured the system and is currently building ships.

In addition to the hosting warfare center, other Navy participants included Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems, Surface Ship Weapons Launchers Program Office (PEO IWS 3L) and International Programs Office (PEO IWS 4); NSWC Dahlgren; NSWC Indian Head, Detachment Earle, N.J.; NSWC Corona; SEA21's International Fleet Support Program Office (PMS 326), and Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity.