SAIC Wins Naval Sea Systems Command Contract To Manufacture Heavyweight Torpedo

[Zarvan]

MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo
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Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has won a $383 million contract from Naval Sea Systems Command NAVSEA to manufacture MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo after body/ tail cone sections.

The work to be performed will increase the quantity of the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes for operational use. The expected completion date is January 2020, SAIC announced Wednesday.

The contract has a 27-month base period of performance from award to final acceptance and includes options for the procurement of spares, production support material, engineering services, test equipment design and manufacturing, and hardware repair services.

“As the manufacturer of the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo afterbody/tailcone sections, SAIC will ensure that the Navy is ready to meet their missions at sea across the globe.” Tom Watson, SAIC senior vice president and general manager of the Navy and Marine Corps Customer Group said.

SAIC is teamed with Lockheed Martin, who will procure various afterbody/tailcone assemblies, as well as provide engineering services.

Lockheed Martin is currently manufacturing guidance and control systems for the MK 48 Mod 7 torpedo. These guidance and control systems will increase bandwidth, provide streamlined targeting and tracking capabilities to enable greater effectiveness and provide advanced counter-measure capabilities.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17..._Manufacture_Heavyweight_Torpedo#.WBwi5dR95kg

 

[Penguin]

The MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS is an upgraded version of the MK 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) Mod 6 Advanced Common Torpedo (ACOT), manufactured by Raytheon. The new torpedo was developed as part of an Armaments Cooperative Programme between the US Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

The heavyweight torpedo is equipped with advanced commercial-off-the-shelf technologies to provide superior reliability and performance against challenging threats in both littoral and blue water environments, and can support multi-band operation.

The MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo has a length of 5.8m and diameter of 53cm, and can reach a maximum depth of 1,200ft. It weighs 1,676kg and carries a high explosive warhead of 292.5kg. Active and passive homing guidance is provided by the Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System. The torpedo can effectively engage low-Doppler shallow submarines, fast deep diving submarines and high-performance surface ships. It supports autonomous fire-and-forget operation or wire-guide capability to provide post-launch monitoring and updates through the submarine combat system. It also allows the transmission and reception over a wide frequency band. The broadband signal processing techniques ensure improved search, acquisition and attack effectiveness for the torpedo.

The MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo is propelled by an inexpensive Otto Fuel II Piston engine, and officially has a speed of "greater than 28kt" (52 km/h; 32 mph) and a range of "greater than 5 miles" (4.3 nmi; 8.0 km). Maximum speed is estimated as 55 kn (63 mph; 102 km/h), at which maximum range is 38 km (24 mi; 21 nmi). Alternatively, maximum rangs is estimated as 50 km (31 mi; 27 nmi) at a lower running speed of 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph). Maximum operating depth officially is officially "greater than 1200 ft" (366m, 200 fathoms) and estimated as 800m (500 fathoms, 2,600 ft). Warhead weight is 650 lb (290 kg) high explosive, plus any unused fuel. It weighs 1,676 kg, and is 5.8 m long with a diameter of 530mm.

The US Navy awarded a $70.2m contract to Raytheon for 15 MK 48 ADCAP torpedoes in support of MK 48 CBASS initial production and production engineering. Estimated unit cost (CBASS model) $3,800,000. Development testing of the MK 48 CBASS torpedo was completed in November 2004 and operational testing was completed in November 2005. Initial operational capability was achieved in 2006 after hardware and software upgrades. The torpedo was successfully test-fired by HMAS Waller submarine of the Australian Navy during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) exercise in July 2008.

The torpedo, which has advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities, is operational with the US and its allied submarine fleet, and serves as a highly effective and lethal weapon against anti-surface and anti-submarine threats in deep and shallow waters.


http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/mk-48.html
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/mk48/

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1103