Mk48 vertical launcher is designed to accommodate and automatically launch anti-aircraft guided missiles RIM-7VL and RIM-162C.
Mk48 HPU has no moving mechanical parts, which ensures high reliability of the unit and reduces maintenance costs. Mk48 PU includes a supporting structure, a gas exhaust system of the ZUR engine jet, airtight containers, launch control equipment and has the following main modifications.
Launching unit Mk48 mod0
The Mk48 mod0 PU is a package of vertical starting containers with gas outlet upwards, which can be placed on the ship's deck. The elementary module (see diagram) consists of two containers and two gas ducts located between them.
The Mk48 mod0 PU is equipped with Murasame type destroyers of the Japanese Navy and City of Canada class frigates. Two Mk48 mod0 PU for eight RIM-7M ZURs each are located in the superstructure area of the Canadian Halifax EMU (see photo1, photo2).
The dimensions of the two-container module Mk48 mod0 are 2280*1270*4780 mm.
Weight of equipped launcher (16 RIM-7) - 15942kg, (32 ESSM) - 29976kg.
Launch unit Mk48 mod1
PU Mk48 mod1 is a package of starting containers with gas outlet to the side, which can be mounted on the walls of superstructures and external bulkheads of the carrier ship (see photo1, photo2). The elementary module (see diagram) consists of two containers, the gas ducts are located at the bottom of each container.
On the frigates of the Karl Doorman of the Netherlands Navy, eight modules are located to the port side of the helicopter hangar.
The dimensions of the two-container module Mk48 mod1 are 1730*1320*4650 mm.
Weight of equipped launcher (16 RIM-7) - 13278kg, (32 ESSM) - 26428kg.
Starting device Mk48 mod2
The Mk48 mod2 PU consists of 16 containers of sub-deck design with gas outlet upwards and is usually placed inside the ship's superstructure. The lids of the containers open outwards and the outlets of the gas ducts are located between the containers.
The Mk48 mod2 PU is installed on Hydra type Greek frigates and KDX type South Korean destroyers.
Dimensions of PU Mk48 mod2 are 4770*4170*4740 mm.
The weight of the equipped launcher (16 RIM-7) is 17648kg, (32 ESSM) - 30890kg.
Mk48 mod3 launcher
The Mk48 mod3 is designed for ships of less than 1,000 t displacement and is a compact module of six starting containers with a gas outlet upwards (see diagram), placed on the ship's deck.
This type of PU is fitted with corvettes of the Dutch Navy's Flyvefisken type and corvettes of the Danish Navy's Niels Juel type (see photo1).
The dimensions of the Mk48 mod3 PU are 3660*2170*4730 mm.
Weight of equipped launcher (6 RIM-7) - 7748 kg, (12 ESSM) - 11816 kg.
The DP-48 mod3 is a variant of the Mk48 mod3. DP-48 mod3 is designed to start RIM-162 ESSM ZUR, which are placed in separate containers (two ESSM containers in the volume of one container Mk48 mod3). Reactive gases from two ESSM containers are discharged by one gas channel. It is used on Danish Navy ships.
Energy consumption of PU Mk48 mod0, mod1, mod2, equipped with 16 SSD:
- 115V 3F 60MHz - 4kVA (without anti-freeze system) - 13kVA (with anti-freeze system)
- 115V 3F 400MHz - 21kVA
Power consumption PU Mk48 mod3, equipped with 6 ZUR:
- 440V 3F 60MHz - 12kVA
- 115V 3F 400MHz - 9kVA
- 24V - 140VA
Weight of typical Mk48 HDP configurations in outfitted condition
| Modification | Number of missiles | PU mass, t | Weight of equipment, t | Gross mass, t | ||||
| RIM-7VL | ESSM | RIM-7VL | ESSM | RIM-7VL | ESSM | RIM-7VL | ESSM | |
| Mod 0 | 16 | 32 | 15,128 | 29,568 | 0,814 | 0,408 | 15,942 | 29,976 |
| Mod 1 | 16 | 32 | 12,464 | 26,020 | 0,814 | 0,408 | 13,278 | 26,428 |
| Mod 2 | 16 | 32 | 16,834 | 30,482 | 0,814 | 0,408 | 17,648 | 30,890 |
| Mod 3 | 6 | 12 | 7,272 | 11,340 | 0,476 | 0,476 | 7,748 | 11,816 |