Telum Vertical Engagement System

Telum VES
Type	Missile launching system
Place of origin	Belfras
Service history
In service	1985–present
Used by	Belfras see operators
Production history
Designed	1970s
Manufacturer	Berring Defence (1970s–1995) Sagittaria Conexus (1995–present)

The Telum Vertical Engagement System (TVES) is a modular and versatile missile launch platform developed to provide naval forces with a comprehensive solution for multi-domain defense. Capable of deploying a wide variety of missiles, the system offers effective protection against threats such as aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and submarines. Its vertical launch configuration enables missiles to be launched in any direction without requiring the platform to reorient, ensuring rapid response and multi-target engagement.

The TVES serves as a critical component of modern naval strategy, equipping a range of vessels, including frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and carriers. Its modular architecture allows for seamless integration into newly built ships and retrofitting onto existing vessels, enhancing operational flexibility across fleets. By supporting a diverse payload of missiles, the system enables ships to execute multiple roles, including air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and land-attack missions.

One of the defining features of the Telum Vertical Engagement System is its multi-canister configuration, which can accommodate one large missile or multiple smaller ones in a single cell. This multi-packing capability is especially advantageous for point-defense operations, allowing a single ship to carry a greater number of interceptors for high-volume threats such as drone swarms or missile salvos. This versatility makes the TVES adaptable to various mission requirements, from theater-level air defense to localized point-defense operations.

The vertical engagement design significantly reduces launch response times, enabling ships equipped with the TVES to rapidly engage simultaneous threats from any direction. This capability is enhanced by its integration with advanced combat systems that provide real-time threat assessment and targeting data. By leveraging onboard sensors and networked radar systems, the TVES ensures accurate, coordinated missile launches in dynamic combat environments.

The Telum Vertical Engagement System is widely regarded as a key force multiplier for modern navies, enabling effective multi-layered defense and offensive capabilities. Its adaptable design, ease of maintenance, and compatibility with emerging technologies ensure that it remains at the forefront of naval warfare innovation.

History and development

The Telum Vertical Engagement System was conceived in response to the evolving nature of naval warfare, where ships increasingly face diverse and simultaneous threats from the air, surface, and underwater domains. The system’s development began in the late 20th century, as the need for a modular, multi-role launch platform became evident. Earlier missile launchers relied on fixed or trainable designs, which limited response times and adaptability. The introduction of vertical launch technology revolutionized naval warfare, providing ships with the ability to launch missiles in any direction with minimal delay.

The first iterations of the TVES were designed to integrate with emerging naval combat systems, ensuring compatibility with advanced radar and sensor arrays. The system was initially deployed aboard the Sardonic-class destroyer, where it demonstrated the capability to launch a wide range of missiles, including long-range anti-air systems like the Skopa-32 and anti-submarine missiles such as the Peltast Missile. These early deployments proved the system’s versatility and established it as a core component of naval strategy.

Over time, the TVES evolved to accommodate technological advancements and new missile types. The introduction of Harpagos Missile for medium- to long-range anti-air engagements and the multi-role Lance Missile showcased the system’s adaptability to changing mission profiles. The ability to multi-pack smaller missiles into a single launch cell, introduced in the second-generation TVES, allowed naval forces to increase their defensive and offensive firepower without expanding the physical size of launchers. This feature became crucial for defending against massed threats such as drone swarms and missile salvos.

By the early 21st century, the TVES had been upgraded to integrate seamlessly with advanced combat management systems like the RHEA Multi-Role System. These enhancements allowed for real-time threat evaluation and coordinated multi-layered defense strategies, enabling ships to operate effectively in contested environments. New missile systems, such as the AD-12 MR for extended-range air defense and AD-12 LR for ballistic missile interception, further solidified the TVES’s role as a cornerstone of naval operations.

Today, the Telum Vertical Engagement System is deployed on a wide array of ships across multiple navies, serving as a critical component of fleet defense and power projection. Its modular design, proven adaptability, and ability to incorporate emerging technologies ensure that it remains at the forefront of naval warfare. As new threats and challenges emerge, the TVES continues to evolve, reinforcing its legacy as a transformative platform in modern naval history.

Specifications

Diagram of the Telum VES

Missile compatibility

Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM)

Harpagos Missile

AD-12 LR

AD-12 MR

Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM)

Lance Missile

Anti-Submarine Missiles (ASM)

Peltast Missile

Design and configuration

The TVES employs a vertical launch design, with missiles pre-loaded into canisters that are inserted into individual cells within the launcher. Each cell features its own protective cover, which remains closed until launch to shield the missile canister from environmental factors. Cells are organized into 8-cell modules (two rows of four), sharing a common exhaust system situated between the rows. This modular approach allows for flexible system sizing based on specific ship requirements.

Primary generations

The Telum Vertical Engagement System (TVES) has undergone multiple generational advancements since its inception, evolving to meet the changing demands of naval warfare. Each generation incorporates significant technological upgrades, ensuring compatibility with new missile systems and enhanced combat management networks. A core design philosophy of the TVES is its retrofit capability, allowing older ships equipped with earlier versions of the system to be upgraded with newer technologies. This modular and scalable approach ensures that no vessel becomes obsolete due to newer VES generations.

Each iteration of the TVES has introduced innovations such as expanded missile compatibility, improved multi-packing for increased ammunition capacity, and integration with next-generation combat systems. The following outlines the key generations of the Telum system, their dates of introduction, and their primary features:

First Generation TVES-1 (Ignis System)

Key Features:

• Basic vertical launch capability, enabling rapid missile deployment in any direction.
• Compatible with early missile systems, such as XXXX for long-range air defense and Peltast Missile for anti-submarine warfare.
• Modular design for integration into various ship classes, including destroyers and frigates.
• Limited multi-packing, with dual-packing support for smaller missile types.
• Integration with first-generation combat management systems for basic tracking and targeting.

Second Generation TVES-2 (Fulmen System)

Key features:

• Enhanced modularity, introducing deeper cell configurations for larger strike missiles such as Lance Missile.
• Support for quad-packing, allowing four smaller missiles like AD-16 Adder in a single cell.
• Compatibility with advanced multi-role and extended-range missiles, including AD-12 LR for ballistic missile defense.
• Integration with RHEA-class combat systems for real-time, networked threat assessment and engagement.
• Improved thermal shielding and canister durability for high-intensity operations.

Secondary Generations

In addition to the primary generations of the Telum Vertical Engagement System (TVES), the system has evolved into specialized 'secondary generations' tailored for specific ship classes and operational roles. These include compact variants for smaller vessels and advanced configurations designed for improved survivability and integration with next-generation technologies.

Telum Compact Engagement System (TCES)

The Telum Compact Engagement System (TCES) is a scaled-down variant of the TVES designed for deployment on smaller ships such as corvettes, patrol vessels, and other platforms with limited deck space. Introduced as a secondary-generation alongside the TVES-2 Fulmen Systemthe TCES provides a modular and lightweight solution without sacrificing the core capabilities of the main system.

Key Features:

• Compact Configuration: Smaller launch cells optimized for short-to-medium-range missile systems and lightweight interceptors.
• Multi-Packing Capability: Supports dual-packing of smaller missiles, enhancing ammunition capacity for vessels with fewer cells.
• Simplified Integration: Designed for ships with limited space and power generation, requiring minimal structural modifications.
• Primary Roles: Focused on point defense and medium-range air defense for smaller naval units or as a supplementary system on larger vessels.

Telum Augmented Engagement System (TAES)

The Telum Augmented Engagement System (TAES) is a sub generation which merges four conventional cells into one wider cell to allow larger missiles. The thermal vents are channeled into a water-cooled vane beside the four conventional length cells. A sub-variant called the TAES/M1 replaces the four conventional cells with a cold-launched gas complex to propell the missiles out of the larger tube, which can be fitted with adapter collars for a variety of munitions.

• Combined Launch Cells: Four standard TVES cells are merged into a single silo to accommodate larger missiles.
• Strategic Missile Capability: Designed for advanced missiles requiring a wider storage area than permitted by the standard width VLS cell.
• Enhanced Mission Roles: Enables a larger variety of missions to be accomplished with a much larger modularity
• Modular Integration: Seamlessly integrates with existing TVES configurations, allowing ships to carry a mix of standard and augmented cells.
• Retrofit Compatibility: Fully backward compatible, ensuring older ships equipped with earlier TVES generations can be upgraded to include TAES cells.

Summary for Sub-generations

TCES is designed for comapct air defense for small ships, main features are it's light-weight design, dual-packing optimised for small missiles.

TAES is designed to replace an 8-cell mount to allow wider missiles to be employed in all size variants seemlessly.

Launcher variants

F.N.S Amira firing a Lance Missile from a TVES system

The TVES is available in three primary configurations, distinguished by cell depth to accommodate various missile sizes:

Self-Defense

Cell depth: 5.3 m (17 ft)

Empty 8-cell module weight: 12,156 kg (26,799 lb)

Tactical

Cell depth: 6.8 m (22 ft)

Empty 8-cell module weight: 13,517 kg (29,800 lb)

Strike

Cell depth: 7.7 m (25 ft)

Empty 8-cell module weight: 14,515 kg (32,000 lb)

Multi-packing capability

The Telum Vertical Engagement System, since the inception of the TVES-2 (Fulmen System) in the 1990s century, supports multi-packing which enables the loading of multiple smaller missiles into a single cell. For instance, the AD-16 Adder can be quad-packed with four missiles housed in one canister, effectively increasing the ship's missile capacity without requiring additional launcher space. This feature is particular advantageous for enhancing point-defense capabilities against saturation attacks.

Operational integration

Designed for seamless integration with advanced combat management systems, the TVES enhances a ship's ability to detect, track, and engage multiple threats simultaneously. Its modularity and adaptability make it a critical component of modern naval warfare, providing ships with the flexibility to carry a diverse arsenal tailored to mission-specific needs.

Operators

Belfras

Salonika-class cruiser (128-cells)

City-class destroyer (96-cells)

Artemis-class Frigate (32-cells)