NSWC Port Hueneme Hosts VLS Forum, Strengthens Allied Relations

From Naval Sea Systems Command

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, May 18-20.

During the event, NSWC Port Hueneme provided allied VLS users with access to the latest technology in logistics and in-service engineering.

"This event allowed users to discuss issues, exchange knowledge, skills, and lessons learned with system experts at one location," said Stan Wypyszynski, NSWC Port Hueneme VLS FMS project office manager. "It also enables a more efficient and effective way to control total ownership costs and maintain the VLS at the highest level of capability."

The annual forum supports the U.S. Navy's maritime strategy by fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships with international partners. This is the fourteenth year international VLS system users have participated. NSWC Port Hueneme has hosted similar events for 20 years, and created a best practice for other programs to follow.

Foreign navy participants included Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands and Spain.

"This is the most important conference for Vertical Launching Systems," said Gunnar Luckas from the German navy.

"This conference is very useful for us to exchange experiences, exchange knowledge, and improve our performance," said Cmdr. Manuel Golmoyo of Spain.

"There are so many systems to learn," said Cmdr. Shinya Akao, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force technical liaison officer. "We are working on two new systems, and definitely need to keep in touch with this group."

In addition to the hosting warfare center, other Navy participants included Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems' Surface Ship Weapons Launchers and International Programs Offices; Surface Combat Systems Center; NSWC Dahlgren; NSWC Carderock; NSWC Indian Head, Detachment Earle Weapons Systems, N.J.; NSWC Corona; SEA21's International Fleet Support Program Office; and the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity.

The warfare centers are the Navy's principal research, development, test and evaluation assessment activity for surface ship and submarine systems and subsystems. In addition, the warfare centers provide depot maintenance and in-service engineering support to ensure the systems fielded today perform consistently and reliably in the future.

NSWC Port Hueneme, a division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, integrates, tests, evaluates and provides life-cycle engineering and logistics support for surface warfare systems.