Curtiss-Wright press release
Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it was selected by Progeny to provide Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) computers and digital processing modules for use in the U.S. Navy’s MK54 and MK48 torpedo upgrade programs. The contract has an estimated lifetime value of $70 million.
“We are very proud to have been selected by Progeny to provide our rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to support the upgrade of the U.S. Navy’s MK54 and MK48 torpedoes. Curtiss-Wright’s selection on this upgrade program is another recent example of how our technology leadership in MOSA-based rugged COTS modules is helping to modernize military platforms rapidly and cost-effectively with open-standards solutions.”
Lynn M. Bamford, President and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation
The processor modules covered by this agreement are being shipped to Progeny in Manassas, Virginia and Charleroi, Pennsylvania.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a global integrated business that provides highly engineered products, solutions and services mainly to Aerospace & Defense markets, as well as critical technologies in demanding Commercial Power, Process and Industrial markets.
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About Mk 54 Lightweight Torpedo
The MK 54 lightweight torpedo is the primary anti-submarine warfare weapon used by U.S. Navy surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Designed to operate in shallow waters and in the presence of countermeasures, it can track, classify and attack underwater targets.
To replace the aging fleet of torpedoes, the U.S. Navy worked with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, a former business unit of Raytheon Company, to design and develop an improved LWT. The MK 54 combines the advanced sonar transceiver of the MK 50 torpedo with the legacy warhead and propulsion system of the older MK 46.
The MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo integrates existing hardware and software from the MK 46 and MK 50 torpedo programs with state-of-the-art commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) digital signal-processing technology. It incorporates an advanced guidance and control (G&C) section employing COTS processing technologies and tactical software improvements to significantly increase torpedo performance in challenging scenarios at reduced lifecycle costs.
Continues software improvements will be delivered through the Torpedo Advanced Processor Build (TAPB) process. The MK 54 MOD 1 provides a hardware upgrade to the sonar array assembly and associated electronics. The MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2004. The MK 54 Vertical Launched Anti-Submarine (ASW) Rocket (ASROC) (VLA) system reached IOC in 2010.
General Characteristics
- Primary Function: Lightweight Torpedo
- Propulsion: Liquid propellant
- Length: 106.9 inch (2.72 n)
- Diameter: 12.75 inch (324 mm)
- Weight: 607 pounds (276 kg)
- Warhead: 100 pounds (43.9 kg), high-explosive PBXN
- Operational Range: 10.000 yd (~9.1 km)
- Maximum speed: >40 knots
About Mk 48 Heavyweight Torpedo
The MK 48 heavyweight torpedo is used by all classes of submarines as their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) weapon.
The MK 48 torpedo is a heavyweight acoustic-homing torpedo with sophisticated sonar, all-digital guidance-and-control systems, digital fusing systems, and propulsion improvements. Its digital guidance system allows for repeated upgrades to counter evolving threats through software upgrades. The last MK 48 MOD 6 production torpedo was delivered in 1996.
Since then, the US Navy has provided discrete improvements to MK 48 MOD 6 via upgrade kits to the torpedo’s guidance and control and propulsion systems. The MK 48 MOD 6 torpedo reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 1997 and continues to receive software upgrades.
The latest version of the MK 48 is the MOD 7, which is optimized for both traditional and emerging missions. The MK 48 MOD 7 torpedo is the result of a Joint Development Program with the Royal Australian Navy and reached IOC in 2006. The MK 48 MOD 7 hardware upgrade has enabled further software improvements to the MK 48 that provide increased capability in the most challenging scenarios.
General Characteristics
- Primary Function: Heavyweight Torpedo
- Contractor: Lockheed Martin
- Propulsion: Liquid propellant
- Diameter: 21 inches (530 mm)
- Weight: 3,744 pounds (1,558 kg)
- Warhead: 650 pounds (450 kg), high-explosive
- Maximum speed: 55 knots
- Maximum depth: 2600 ft (800 m)
- Effective firing range: 38 km at 55 knots, 50 km at 40 knots
