The U.S. State Department on has approved the sale of MK 54 lightweight torpedoes manufactured by Raytheon, to Germany and Belgium.

The German sale worth $130 million is to procure 64 MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight torpedoes and ten MK 54 Conversion Kits to be used with fleet exercise sections as MK 54 Exercise torpedoes.

“The Government of Germany has requested to buy sixty-four (64) MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight torpedoes and ten (10) MK 54 Conversion Kits to be used with fleet exercise sections as MK 54 Exercise torpedoes.  Also included are torpedo containers; Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers; Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks to be used with MK 54 conversion kits (procured as MDE); air launch accessories for fixed wing; torpedo spare parts; training, publications, support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The total estimated value is $130 million.”

The U.S. State Department say that the proposed sale will improve Germany’s capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading the Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities on Germany’s P-3C aircraft.

The Belgian sale worth $33.3 million includes supply of 29 All Up Round MK 54 Mod 0 LWTs, two Fleet Exercise Section conversion kits, torpedo support equipment, training and publications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

“The Government of Belgium requests to buy twenty-nine (29) All Up Round MK 54 LWT Mod 0.  Also included are two (2) Fleet Exercise Section conversion kits, torpedo support equipment, training and publications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The total estimated program cost is $33.3 million.”

The Belgian Navy is phasing out its inventory of MK 46 torpedoes.  The MK 54 will give them the ability to engage submarines from its fleet of NH-90 helicopters and the new generation of Multi-Mission Frigates.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

7 COMMENTS

    • Integration costs to the P-3C would be considerable, the US has already done this work and paid for it. Given the likely life left for the P-3C (which were secondhand from the Dutch) its not worth paying to integrate MU-90.

  2. I mean look at it…Its arse!
    No pump jet just regular MK46 counter-rotating props.
    Control surfaces in front of the props, not in the pump jet stream as modern weapons have, so the turn rate and manoeuvrability is poor
    The nose is hardly streamlined indicating that the top speed is not that high probably the same as the old MK 46 which will not catch up to a modern attack boat if dropped to far away .
    No drogue chute so it plunges deep on launch which isnt very good in shallow water.
    Its powered by OTTO fuel and the back end has the same hull cut outs as the old Mk46 which causes flow noise degrading the onboard sonar.

    But hey its not like the UK is buying it for its all new all singing and dancing MPA…Oh wait a minute we are!

    • You sound like a real fish head, but I agree with you entirely. Whats happened to our uks Stingray? Mk 54 is on Posidon and no doubt will creep onto Merlin , wildcat et al. I was involved with Mk 40,42, 44 and 46, none were particulary effective. Stingray was years ahead with its search patterns etc, but it needed to speed up a bit, doubt if there has been any upgrade. Who runs the old Marconi Portmouth facility ?

    • I am 100% onboard with you points in respect of the Mk54, the catch is the UK isn’t going to be paying for the integration of anything else on the P-8a in the foreseeable future. Considering we plan to operate it in a very closely with the USN and Norway Mk54 is here to stay for the moment. To be fair the USN is investing in continued development and is well aware of its shortcomings. With things heating up with China and Russia plus wide proliferation of Diesel SSK that will operate in literal waters I think the USN will eventually bow to reality and either upgrade the Mk54 into something not unlike the Mk50 or something else will come down the pipe.

      Considering P-8a is not just an ASW platform but performs an important ISTAR role I am content for the UK to tag along with a US standard weapons fit for the moment.

      I wouldn’t worry too much about it nudging Stingray off Merlin and Wildcat, it appears that weapon has an upgrade path and is not going anywhere soon…maybe we can persuade a US manufacturer to License build it, sell it to the USN and get it on P-8a that way lol 😉

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here