Ship Missile Support Equipment

The Ship Missile Support Equipment line item (LI 5231) in the Department of Defense (DoD) FY 2026 Navy budget is focused on the procurement, modernization, and installation of critical shipboard missile support systems. The overarching goal is to ensure that the Navy's surface fleet maintains robust, modern, and interoperable missile defense and combat system capabilities. This line item supports a range of systems, including the AEGIS Weapons System, Ship Self Defense System (SSDS), Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile System (NSSMS), Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Launchers, Over The Horizon Weapon System (OTH WS), MK57 VLS, Integrated Combat System (ICS), and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS).

Funding for the NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile System (NSSMS) is directed toward the modernization and replacement of legacy components, such as the MK29 Guided Missile Launching System and the obsolete MK73 Mod 3 Transmitter Group. Objectives include integrating the Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 capability, supporting the transition to more advanced configurations, and ensuring system compatibility with the Ship Self Defense System MK 2 Combat System. Engineering, logistics, depot, cyber, and safety support are included to address technical requirements, cyber resilience, and safety certification for in-service ships.

Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Launchers are procured and upgraded to enhance shipboard anti-air and anti-missile defense. The budget supports procurement and installation of Firepower and Shock Hardening Ordnance Alterations (ORDALTs) on in-service destroyers, enabling the use of the latest RAM Block 2B missile and addressing obsolescence and safety deficiencies. The program also funds new launcher installations in accordance with Navy decisions to increase terminal defense on ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyers, with production and installation schedules aligned to ship maintenance availabilities.

Investments in the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) focus on hardware and software modernization, including the procurement of COTS conversion kits, advanced planning for ship and shore installations, and support for Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT). SSDS MK 2 provides integrated air and missile defense, situational awareness, and interoperability through Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and Link 16. The program addresses obsolescence, supply chain challenges, and cost increases associated with transitioning to new computing infrastructure and supporting a diverse mix of ship classes.

Funding for AEGIS Support Equipment ensures readiness and modernization of AEGIS Cruisers and Destroyers, as well as shore-based training and test facilities. This includes procurement of special tools, test equipment, radar enhancements, depot maintenance, and hardware for the Integrated Warfare Systems Laboratory, Surface Combat Systems Center, and AEGIS Training and Readiness Center. The program addresses obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources, and supports fleet certification, training, and operational availability.

Support for Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) and MK57 Support Equipment includes both the MK41 VLS (used on cruisers and destroyers) and the MK57 VLS (unique to the DDG 1000 class). Objectives include procurement of engineering change proposals, ordnance alterations, production engineering, and hardware for canister electronics units. These efforts are aimed at improving missile capacity, flexibility, and safety, as well as ensuring compatibility with evolving missile variants and combat system architectures.

Other programs within this line item include the procurement and installation of Over The Horizon Weapon Systems (OTH WS) for Littoral Combat Ships, Afloat Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) to address emerging aerial threats, and support for anti-ship missile decoy systems such as NULKA. The line item also includes funding for the transition to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) computing environments, which decouple hardware and software to enable scalable, future-proof combat system upgrades. These investments are designed to maintain and enhance the Navy's surface fleet missile defense, situational awareness, and combat readiness in response to evolving operational requirements and technological advancements.