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Jane's Navy International

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Big hitters: heavyweight torpedoes follow an incremental course

Heavyweight torpedoes continue to be the mainstay of the submarine's armoury. Ben Goodlad , Luca

Peruzzi , and Richard Scott examine current development and upgrade programmes

The decommissioned US Navy cruiser USS Wainwright, after being hit by a Spearfish torpedo fired by the UK Royal Navy Trafalgar-class SSN HMS Tireless during a UK/US firing test in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2002. (Crown copyright/Ministry of Defence)

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Evolution, not revolution, is very much the name of the game for those in the western hemisphere

involved in the design, development, manufacture, and upgrade of heavyweight torpedoes (HWTs). So

while many HWT products have a long lineage, this does not mean that navies, industry, and the defence

scientific community are ignoring the need to incrementally improve function and performance to stay

ahead of the threat.

In operational terms, although a few naval forces still arm fast attack craft and frigates with long-range

torpedoes for anti-surface warfare (ASW), current developments in the HWT (533 mm diameter) market

are largely driven by the demands of the submarine community. Closely integrated with the sensor,

tactical, fire-control, and weapon discharge systems of the host submarine, the modern HWT serves as an

underwater guided weapon for use against both submarine and surface targets.

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ADCAP upgrades

Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes onboard the USN Ohio-class SSBN USS Michigan. The Mk 48 ADCAP inventory continues to evolve through 'spiral' development, with the Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) variant the latest instantiation. (IHS/Kelvin Wong)

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Latterly delivered through a 'Team Torpedo' enterprise partnership between Raytheon, the US Naval

Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and the US Navy's (USN's) Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS

404), the Mk 48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) HWT inventory continues to evolve as the result of a 'spiral'

programme of hardware and software upgrades. The Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System

(CBASS) variant - the result of a joint development programme with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) - is

the latest instantiation of this line.

In parallel, the USN has declared its intention to restart Mk 48 ADCAP production to increase the Mk 48

Mod 7 warshot inventory. This will entail separate competitive awards, beginning in fiscal year 2016 (FY

2016).

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A Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo is unloaded from the US Navy's Los Angeles-class SSN USS Annapolis. (US Navy)

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Derived from the earlier Mk 48 Mod 4, the original Mod 5 ADCAP entered service in 1987 and introduced

digital sonar, signal processing, and G&C while retaining the proven dynamics and Otto Fuel II propulsion of

its progenitor. The last newbuild ADCAP torpedo was delivered in 1996.

The successor Mk 48 Mod 6 introduced enhancements in G&C, and in the torpedo propulsion unit. The

G&C modification improves the acoustic receiver, replaces the G&C set with updated technology, increases

memory, and improves processor throughput to handle expanded software demands. The propulsion

system modification provides a tactically significant reduction in torpedo radiated noise signatures.

Mk 48 Mod 6 achieved initial operational capability (IOC) in 1997. It is also the first torpedo that can utilise

a Torpedo Downloader System to enable rapid software updates for embarked weapons, allowing the

submarine to deploy with the most up-to-date software variant.

The enhanced Mk 48 Mod 6 Advanced Common Torpedo (ACOT) entered service in 2006. The ACOT

upgrade introduced further improvements to G&C.

The latest Mk 48 version, the Mod 7, introduces the CBASS modification to give improved capability in

shallow water environments, and to provide improved countermeasures discrimination. Phase 1

torpedoes, achieving IOC in 2006, delivered the initial hardware and software; Phase 2 torpedoes (IOC

2013) were required to deliver full capability.

The engineering, development, manufacturing, and support of the Mk 48 Mod 7 torpedo has been pursued

in collaboration with Australia under a 10-year Armament Cooperative Project (ACP), signed in March

2003. Under Project Sea 1429 Phase 2, the RAN has acquired the Mk 48 Mod 7 for its six Collins-class

diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) as a successor to the Mk 48 Mod 4.

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Within the ACP framework, the USN and the RAN share Mk 48 Mod 7 development, testing, and

acceptance costs. The ACP has established common requirements, interfaces, configurations, and

maintenance standards, thus enabling any Australian or US submarine to load torpedoes prepared by any

Australian or US torpedo maintenance facility.

In addition, Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is contributing underwater

acoustics, sonar signal processing, and target physics outputs to the ACP over its lifetime. A Torpedo

System Centre was opened at DSTO in Edinburgh, South Australia, in July 2004. Also, a Torpedo Analysis

Facility was commissioned in January 2006; this facility is used to study the performance of the new HWT

in a high-fidelity, synthetic, controlled environment.

CBASS kits provide retrofitted torpedoes with the ability to transmit/receive over a wider frequency band,

and take advantage of broadband signal processing techniques to improve targeting and tracking

capabilities. Lockheed Martin Sippican is the current incumbent for the supply of CBASS kits. Since 2011,

the company has been awarded contracts valued in excess of USD70 million for functional item

replacement kits, engineering services, spares, and production support material. A new competitive

contract, due for award in FY 2016, will cover continued production of Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS upgrade kits to

meet the USN's Fleet Naval Munitions Requirements Plan for HWTs.


Heavyweight restart

Work to restart Mk 48 Mod 7 production is now gaining momentum. According to NAVSEA, the current

HWT inventory and inventory effectiveness "do not meet current demand signal". NAVSEA added that

"additional procurement of Mk 48 Mod 7 weapons will allow the USN to meet non-nuclear ordnance

requirement loadout levels with [the] most effective weapons".

The current production restart acquisition strategy envisions two separate competitive awards (each with a

base year and four option years), starting in FY 2016, for prime contractors to deliver Mk 48 Mod 7 torpedo

G&C and afterbody/tailcone sections; the G&C contract will combine CBASS procurement to upgrade

existing inventory, plus procurement of full G&C sections. The contractual deliveries from the G&C sections

and afterbody/tailcone sections will be integrated with war reserve warheads and fuel tank sections by the

Intermediate Maintenance Activity at NUWC Keyport, Washington, to create eight all-up-rounds (AURs).

This effort will increase warshot torpedoes availability in support of the pre-major combat operations

phase.

The G&C section contains the shell, broadband sonar array receiver, depth sensor assembly, EMI filter,

G&C Box, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), nose array, pre-amplifier, transmitter, tuning box, and wire

link.

The second competitive contract will procure the afterbody/tailcone section, which will include the

afterbody shell, steering assembly, tailcone assembly, engine assembly coolant system, fuel delivery

assembly, hydraulic system, alternator/regulator, lube oil pump, and Type 2 cables. NUWC Keyport will

perform production acceptance tests on these Mk 48 Mod 7 torpedo sections.

According to the USN, the FY 2016 budget will fund the award of the two competitive contracts for G&C

and afterbody/tailcone sections from the prime contractors, production test equipment upgrades,

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engineering change proposals, and non-recurring engineering to resolve production issues including

obsolescence. Non-recurring engineering funds base contract year technology refresh due to obsolescence

issues and non-deliverable hardware consumed in production acceptance testing. In FY 2016, non-

recurring engineering funds production of six proof of manufacturing (POM) units, POM unit government

testing, first article testing, tooling, test equipment, procurement of technical data package updates, and

start-up costs for production contractors.


An infographic showing the Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo family. The Mk 48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) inventory continues to evolve as a result of hardware and software 'spiral' upgrades. (NAVSEA)

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Spearfish upgrade

In late 2014, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded BAE Systems Maritime Services a GBP270 million

(USD421 million) Demonstration and Full Manufacture contract for the upgrade of an undisclosed number

of UK Royal Navy (RN) Spearfish Mod 0 HWTs to Mod 1 standard. Deliveries are scheduled to run from

2020 through to 2024.

Entering service in 1994, the current Spearfish Mod 0 HWT equips all RN submarines, providing them with

a capability against both submarine and surface targets. The Spearfish Upgrade (SFU) programme, which

brings the weapon up to Mod 1 standard, is designed to address the need for incremental improvements in

safety, to remove obsolescence, and to enable through-life cost reduction.

BAE Systems was contracted for the SFU Assessment Phase in April 2010. Under this four-year activity, the

company completed a series of system design, development, risk reduction, and integration activities,

including in-water testing of technology torpedoes undertaken in early 2014 at the British Underwater Test

and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) off northwest Scotland.

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Upgrades being embodied in the Spearfish Mod 1 include the introduction of a fully digital weapon

architecture (both hardware and software), replacement of the current copper/cadmium wire-guidance

link with a ruggedised fibre-optic system (reducing the data latency between the platform and the

weapon), and the replacement of the existing warhead with an IM-compliant one.

In addition, the Mod 1 will transition to a single fuel propulsion system that will offer cost and safety

benefits over the current dual-fuel (HAP-Otto) system. The existing Spearfish Mod 0 hull and Hamilton

Sundstrand 21TP04 thermal propulsion system are retained.

A Spearfish Mod 0 heavyweight torpedo on the test bench at BAE Systems' Broad Oak plant near Portsmouth. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)

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Tp62 upgrade

Having completed qualification trials for the new Torpedo 2000 weapon in 1995, Bofors Underwater

Systems - now subsumed within Saab - received an SEK568 million (USD68.6 million) contract from the

Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk - FMV) in late 1997 to undertake series

production for the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN). Series deliveries commenced in 2001.

Designed to replace the existing Tp613 anti-ship HWT aboard both submarines and fast attack craft, the

wire-guided Torpedo 2000 (designated Tp62 in Swedish service) began development in 1988, with a full-

scale development contract let in 1991.

Torpedo 2000 uses a bi-propellant propulsion system (a combination of 85% HTP and 15% kerosene). The

HTP decomposes in a chamber, with the aid of catalytic silver nets, to produce oxygen and steam at 600°C.

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This is fed to a gas generator, where kerosene is injected and fresh water added to cool the system,

resulting in a greater volume of exhaust gas at 750°C. This in turn powers a seven-cylinder piston engine

driving a pumpjet propulsor. Torpedo 2000 can trade off speed against range up to a maximum of about 50

kt and 50,000 m respectively.


Black Shark Advanced

The next generation of the Black Shark HWT developed by Finmeccanica's Whitehead Alenia Sistemi

Subacquei (WASS) business is shortly to begin low-rate production deliveries to the Italian Navy. Known as

Black Shark Advanced (BSA), this latest iteration is intended to replace the current A 184 Mod 3 weapon in

Italian Navy service. Its development resulted from the Italian MoD's Nuovo Siluro Pesante (NSP)

requirements. Development and initial production of BSA has been underwritten by two MoD contracts

awarded to WASS in 2011.

The fibre-optic dispenser on the rechargeable battery-configured variant of the Black Shark Advanced (BSA) torpedo. (Luca Peruzzi)

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To satisfy the MoD's requirement, the BSA differs principally from the export-oriented Black Shark by

means of its interchangeable battery section (either warshot or exercise), a new IM warhead, and a new

reinforced fibre-optic cable dispenser.

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The NSP or BSA-named weapon system comes in two new different configurations: a rechargeable battery-

equipped set-up for training and crew proficiency activities; and a new single-shot battery-equipped

version for warshot torpedoes.

WASS has successfully completed testing and qualification activities of the rechargeable battery

configuration for BSA. According to the company, the new commercially based lithium-ion polymer (LiPo)

battery is the same form factor and weight of a legacy silver/zinc (Ag/Zn) battery, but produces 100% more

energy and 70% more power; furthermore, it has a much longer lifespan of 5-6 years (compared to around

12-18 months for Ag/Zn batteries), without requiring any kind of maintenance discharge. The LiPo battery

also offers five times the number of firing cycles than current Ag/Zn-based batteries.

The rechargeable battery-configured variant of the Black Shark Advanced (BSA) torpedo, seen here being loaded onto the Italian Navy Type 212A Todaro-class SSK Scire in La Spezia, Italy. Scire hosted harbour and sea trials for the weapon. (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei)

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The rechargeable battery-configured BSA has completed test and qualification activities, including harbour

and sea trials on board the Italian Navy's Type 212A Todaro-class SSK Scirè , which was fitted with the

WASS standard Torpedo Board Interface for testing activities. The latter is to be a standard fit on the navy's

Type 212A Batch 2 submarines (boats three and four in the class), and is to be integrated on board in-

service boats, being the only main hardware interface modification required.

In January 2014 off La Spezia, Italy, a LiPo-powered BSA exercise torpedo was launched for the first time,

again from Scirè . Testing and qualification of the new battery is understood to have demonstrated better-

than-specified performance, delivering speed, power, and energy comparable to a warshot torpedo

battery while at the same time reducing costs of ownership. Extensive testing by WASS also demonstrated

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improved safety attributes, with Finmeccanica currently building a dossier to demonstrate the fulfilment of

current NATO safety regulations for onboard underwater platforms.


SeaHake evolves

The SeaHake Mod 4 torpedo, in service with seven countries and with over 300 torpedoes having been delivered. (Atlas Elektronik GmbH)

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Also in the market is Atlas Elektronik's SeaHake Mod 4 HWT. Introduced by the German Navy in 2004 as

the DM2A4, when the first pre-production weapons entered service, the SeaHake Mod 4 is in service with

seven countries with over 300 torpedoes having been delivered. Indeed, the Mod 4 weapon is at the apex

of a 45-year lineage, with Atlas torpedoes currently used by 18 navies on over 150 submarines.


Copyright © IHS Global Limited, 2015

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big hitters: heavyweight torpedoes follow an incremental ... · ... heavyweight torpedoes follow an...

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