Australia has signed a $126 million agreement with the United States for an additional purchase of MK-48 heavyweight torpedoes for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarines. The government said the torpedo, the product of a joint program between RAN and the U.S. Navy, will be among the armaments of Australia’s future nuclear submarines.
U.S.-Australia Alliance in Play
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the torpedo purchase underscores Canberra’s commitment to the priorities of the country’s National Defence Strategy and the long-standing U.S.-Australia alliance.
“The continuous joint development of the MK-48 heavyweight torpedo provides the Australian Navy with the latest technology to counter current and future threats,” he added.
Australia procures the torpedoes as sections assembled and tested RAN’s Torpedo Maintenance Facility in Western Australia. The facility is also certified for the assembly, maintenance and testing of MK-48 for U.S. Navy platforms.
MOD 7: New Torpedo Iteration
RAN and USN’s MK 48 partnership achieved initial operating capability in 2006 and henceforth delivered the MOD 7 as the torpedo’s latest version. The new iteration features hardware and software upgrades to boost its capability in extreme combat scenarios, the U.S. Navy said. Lockheed Martin and SAIC are MK 48 contractors.
The torpedo procurement followed an Australian Department of Defence report in December listing the Collins-class submarine sustainment program as a product of concern that needs enhanced ministerial oversight to ensure the fleet’s effectiveness throughout its service life. The areas for improvement identified for the fleet’s life extension include communications, electronic warfare and sonar capability.