Australia Boosts Submarine Lethality With $125M MK-48 Torpedo Purchase

In a major boost to its naval strength, Australia is investing 200 million Australian dollars ($125 million) to acquire more MK-48 heavyweight torpedoes and enhance the striking power of its submarine fleet.

The weapons will be fitted on the country’s Collins-class submarines and future nuclear-powered submarines, strengthening both their defensive and offensive capabilities.

According to a government announcement, the torpedoes will be procured in batches, to be assembled and tested later at a local torpedo maintenance facility in Western Australia.

Although the quantity of the purchase has not been disclosed, Canberra emphasized that the additional torpedoes will significantly enhance Australia’s deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

“With this announcement, the Albanese Labor Government is ensuring the Navy has the capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe,” Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy noted.

A ‘Smart’ Move

Australian defense procurement expert Marcus Hellyer told Breaking Defense that the decision to acquire additional torpedoes aims to offset the slow pace of deliveries of other critical weapons.

Canberra has existing orders for the US-made Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) to enhance its defense capabilities.

Full delivery of the LRASM is expected later this year, while the JASSM-ER is not expected to be delivered until 2027.

“It can take a long time for US guided weapons to show up as the US meets its own requirements or those of higher priority customers,” Hellyer explained.

“It’s smart to get in early. Moreover, some weapons or components of weapons don’t have continuous production lines, so you have to act when they are available.”

Hellyer also noted that the MK-48 torpedoes could eventually be installed on the SSN-AUKUS fleet and the Virginia-class submarines Australia plans to acquire.

About the MK-48

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin and Science Applications International Corp., the MK-48 is a powerful torpedo equipped with advanced sonar and all-digital guidance-and-control systems.

Its active/passive acoustic-homing technology enables the torpedo to detect and track targets using sound waves, allowing for precise strikes even in complex environments.

The MK-48 can travel at 52 kilometers (32 miles) per hour and strike targets up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) away.

Compatible with all submarine classes, it supports both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare missions.