Australia will acquire additional quantities of torpedoes from the United States through a $200 million agreement, Australian Defence Magazine reports.
“The continuous joint development of the MK-48 Heavy Weight Torpedo provides the Australian Navy with the latest technology to counter current and future threats. This acquisition is a testament to Australia’s strong, long-standing alliance with the United States,” Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy said.
Under the contract, Australia will gain additional stocks of MK-48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes, which are designed for both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. The MK-48s will be used on the Collins class submarines and the future nuclear-powered submarines.
“This boost to our stocks of MK-48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to deliver on priorities in the 2024 National Defence Strategy that contribute to the strategy of denial,” Conroy stated.
The MK-48 is the creation of a joint program between the Australian Government and US Government. This will involve the joint development of MK-48 hardware and software. The program will support the acquisition and sustainment of the capability for both the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and US Navy.
