A close-up view of the unusual missile launcher on the destroyer USS Carl M. Levin.
The US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has just been revealed with a new launch module on its aft deck, believed to be a specialized solution for intercepting UAVs and other asymmetric threats.
The USS Carl M. Levin, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the U.S. Navy, recently attracted attention with an unusual modular launch system installed on its aft deck. Strategically positioned, this system enhances defensive capabilities without significantly altering the ship's existing structure, while also targeting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fast attack craft.
Specifications and installation location of the new equipment
Actual images show the new device located aft of the superstructure, situated between the torpedo tubes on the port side and the Mk 41 vertical launch system. This structure has a flexible modular design and appears to use a rotating platform to adjust the elevation angle before firing.
In appearance, this launcher bears many similarities to the White Spike interceptor missile launch system developed by Zone 5 Technologies. However, as of December 2025, this system has not yet been widely deployed on the US destroyer fleet, making its appearance on the USS Carl M. Levin a noteworthy technical test.
Potential weapon systems under consideration
Besides White Spike, military experts are considering several other candidates for this position. Potential names include Anduril's Roadrunner-M missile and Raytheon's Coyote. Notably, the Coyote system was spotted in similar locations on the USS Bainbridge and USS Winston S. Churchill last year, but the launch platform design on the Carl M. Levin this time is distinctly different.
Another viable option is the AGM-179 (JAGM) missile. Previously, Lockheed Martin introduced the idea of installing clusters of four JAGM launch tubes at the stern of Arleigh Burke-class ships. Thanks to its advanced active seeker, the JAGM is capable of effectively destroying both airborne targets and small surface vessels in rapid approach situations.
The US Navy's firepower modularization strategy.
In addition to its direct attack role, the new launcher is expected to be able to deploy decoy targets or drones to distract enemy anti-ship missiles. The US Navy is actively testing long-range systems to protect its fleet against swarm attacks.
According to The War Zone, although requests for containerized launchers capable of rapid deployment were announced earlier this year, the US Navy has remained silent and has not issued any official comment on the nature of the equipment on board the USS Carl M. Levin. This suggests a quiet trend toward modularizing firepower to adapt to new maritime security threats.
