SAIC will supply MK-48 Mod 7 torpedoes to Taiwan


According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on November 25, 2021, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $123,682,642 fixed-price incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production of MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight afterbody/tailcones and warshot fuel tank torpedo equipment and support.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 MK-48 Mod 7 torpedo (Picture source: Science Applications International Corporation)


This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $1,113,036,995.

This contract combines purchases for the Navy and the governments of Australia and Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Work will be performed in Bedford, Indiana (80%); and Middletown, Rhode Island (20%), and is expected to be complete by July 2025. If all options are exercised, work will continue through January 2033.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-6419).

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 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.