Lightweight, Low Cost, Multiweapon Missile Canister

The development of a lower weight MK 25 missile canister will allow performance enhancement of the ESSM through missile weight growth without requiring engineering and installation changes to the MK 41 VLS. A lower weight canister can be achieved through the judicious use of composite materials. In order to use composite materials as major portions of the MK 25 missile canister, such as the subcell sidewalls, the launch rails, corners, and framework, a lengthy and complex set of interrelationships between performance requirements, environmental capabilities, materials, and processes will be balanced. TRI will leverage its Thermasafe TM fire tolerant composite resin system, which has already been used in the development of a missile canister prototype and which has passed MIL-STD-2031 for fire, smoke, and toxicity. Weight savings as high as 40% for specific canister subcomponents are anticipated. A hybrid manufacturing process will balance ease of manufacturing with performance requirements. Canister design analysis will be accomplished through the use of NASTRAN and LS Dyna models that will be based on Navy generated date for missile firings. TRI has teamed with the appropriate OEMs to ensure capture of all system requirements and to set the path for transition.