The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £60.1m contract to BAE Systems for the assessment phase of the upgrade from the Sting Ray Mod 1 to the Mod 2 lightweight torpedo.
The current Mod 1 version, used by both the Royal Navy and the Norwegian Armed Forces, is designed to counter fast, deep-diving submarines as well as quiet, conventional submarines operating in coastal waters.
This upgrade aims to extend its operational life and improve its performance against emerging threats.
BAE Systems has been actively working on the Sting Ray Mod 1, which includes several advanced features such as a sophisticated acoustic homing system, an insensitive munition warhead, and a state-of-the-art digital signal processor.
The torpedo’s new front-end array, navigation, and guidance systems, as well as its solid-state inertial measurement unit, enable it to execute complex tactical manoeuvres and improve target classification and discrimination.
The contract was awarded through a negotiated procedure without prior publication, a method used when only one supplier is capable of delivering the requirement or due to extreme urgency.
In a statement last year, BAE Systems expressed its commitment to the programme, stating, “We are delighted with the Ministry of Defence’s intent to award BAE Systems Maritime Services business a contract for the assessment phase, subject to funding, of the Sting Ray lightweight torpedo mid-life upgrade programme. The upgrade programme for the Sting Ray torpedo will extend and enhance this vital element of our national anti-submarine naval defence capability.”
The assessment phase for the Sting Ray Mod 2 will build on the advances made in Mod 1. It is expected to feature further improvements in its acoustic and tactical software, enhancing its capability to counter the latest submarine threats.
I wonder if we could convince Germany to buy some. We are getting along very well when it comes to land, and there are new agreements when it comes to sea as well which seem to suggest there is room for further collaberation.
The German’s already spent all their new money 😀
We need to redevelop sovereign UK capability not be reliant on offshore suppliers
Absolutely 👍
Hope Norway will help fund Sting Ray integration into P8’s.
I thought they already had? Do they just operate them from their AW101s then?
No, their AW101 are not ASW but SAR. Their P-8 and SH-60 certainly will have MK54
I don’t doubt you, but now I’m even more confused. What platform do they launch stingray from then? Surely not just their frigates?
Seems that is correct, only their frigates. Maybe they can get the funding for SH-60 and P-8 have Stingray if they are really interested.
I’d hope so, latest test reports for the new model Mk54 are pretty critical- especially for the littorals.
Hmmm…the blokes down at the Admiralty may be guilty once again of some seriously intelligent planning. Interesting, funding for Stingray Mod 2, in conjunction w/ LRAW (UKDJ, 14 Jun 24) for the T-26 class, which the Norwegians are reportedly contemplating purchasing?🤔 Question: What is better than making serious improvements to a weapon system? Answer: An ally assisting in defraying the cost of development and integration. 😉 Would presume joint integration and deployment of Stingray Mod 2 onboard P-8A would be a follow-on effort.
Simply imagine the beneficial results, if the RN had access to the fiscal resources of the USN. 🤔
Ah, that is a budget that every other navy in the world could only dream of..! The British military’s entire budget is only ~$10B greater than that of the USMC (memory is a bit creaky, but it’s around that), for roughly the same number of personnel. But we have to fund a nuclear deterrent, nuclear attack submarines, plus all the infrastructure, other branches’ stuff, aircraft carriers etc. that the USMC don’t need to worry about. And the USMC consider themselves the ugly stepchild in terms of their allocation of the budget!
You’re right, the Navy must be really hoping that they can steer the Norwegian through this- will make a number of costs far lower for us while improving effectiveness. I even heard there might be talk of Norway integrating JSM onto P-8A too, as well as F-35(A). I know we don’t have them, and they’d only be good for external carriage on our Bs. But knowing that we can make use of them is a big win.
🤔👍
Sorry, you got me on one of my pet topics there!
The above was no criticism of the US armed forces at all- have worked with many veterans over the years and have a great deal of respect for them, their service and the institutions they came from.
But a lot of Americans (not saying you’re one of them at all) just don’t appreciate how much bigger their budgets are than literally anywhere else in the world- it’s orders of magnitude. There’s a reason there’s only one superpower at the moment!
£60.1 million for the assessment phase of the upgrade from the Sting Ray Mod 1 to the Mod 2 lightweight torpedo! If they’d asked me, I’d of done it for £50.1, Yes, lets go ahead and update the platform. How much is the actual Mod going to cost, how many units, in what timescale? I’m updating school equipment to be Win11 compliant. For that budget I could buy 324,865 desktop computers lol. To be fair thought, can’t kill an enemy sub with a Dell Optiplex….
Possibly the best LWT in the world getting even better. Game ON ! 🙂
Someone seems to of had a good idea for a change!
Will be a decent improvement
Nice…
Some forward planning is good to see. The MOD 1 improvements ensured it stayed at the top of the pile for LWTs now and for the foreseeable future.
The proposed MOD 2 improvements will keep it there.