The RUM-139 VL-ASROC is an anti-submarine missile in the ASROC family, currently built by the Lockheed Martin company for the U.S. Navy. Design and development of the missile began in 1983 when the Goodyear Aerospace company was contracted by the U.S. Navy to develop a ship-launched anti-submarine missile compatible with the new Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. The development of the VLS ASROC underwent many delays, and it was not deployed on any ships until 1993. During this development, Goodyear Aerospace was bought by the Loral aerospace company in 1986, and this defense division was in turn purchased by Lockheed Martin Aerospace in 1995.