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Surface Vessel Weapon System Mk.54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedo |
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| 11/25 |
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The Mark 54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedo, previously known as the
Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo (LHT), was co-developed by Raytheon
Integrated Defense Systems and the U.S. Navy under the U.S. Navy's
Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo program in response to perceived problems
with the extant Mark 50 and Mark 46 torpedoes. The Mk 50, having
been developed to counter very high performance nuclear submarines
such as the Soviet Alfa class, was seen as too expensive to use
against relatively slow conventional submarines. The older Mk 46,
designed for open-ocean use, performed poorly in the littoral areas,
where the Navy envisioned itself likely to operate in the future. The Mk.54 was created by combining the homing and warhead portions of the Mk.50 and the propulsion unit of the Mk.46, improved for better performance in shallow water, and with the addition of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology to further reduce costs. It shares much of the software and computer hardware of the Mk 48 ADCAP heavy torpedo, based around a custom PowerPC 603e chip. Developmental testing began in July, 1999, and a successful critical design review was completed in November, 1999. In April 2003, Raytheon was awarded a sole source contract for the production of the Mk 54. Full rate production began in October, 2004. In March 2010 the Fifth Fleet requested improvements in the Mk 54's performance against diesel-electric submarines via an Urgent Operational Need Statement (UONS). This led to a software Block Upgrade (BUG) program which began testing in August 2011 and which continues, having been criticised by the DOT&E for using unrealistic proxies for threat submarines. The Mk 54 can be fired from surface ships via the Mark 32 surface vessel torpedo tubes or the vertical launch anti-submarine rocket (ASROC) systems, and also from most ASW aircraft, although they are slightly different lengths and weights. The P-8 Poseidon uses the High-Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Capability (HAAWWC) GPS-guided parachute kit to drop torpedoes from high altitude. The FY14 DOT&E report assessed the Mk.54 (BUG) torpedo as not operationally effective in its intended role. "During operationally challenging and realistic scenarios, the Mk.54 (BUG) demonstrated below threshold performance and exhibited many of the same failure mechanisms observed during the FY 2004 initial operational testing". Shortfalls were also identified with the employing platforms’ tactics and tactical documentation, and interoperability problems with some platform fire control systems. As of 2015, a new version to be designated Mk.54 Mod.1 is in development. It is intended to enter operational testing and evaluation in 2017. General Characteristics: Contractor: Raytheon Length: 106.9 inch (8 ft 10.9 in / 272 cm) Diameter: 12.75 inch (324 mm) Weight: 608 lbs (276 kg) Propulsion: liquid propellant (Otto II) Speed: 40+ knots (74+ km/h) Warhead: 96.8 pounds, high-explosive (PBXN-103) Blast yield: 238 lbs (108 kg) TNT Guidance: active or passive/active acoustic homing Launching platforms: Mk.32 Torpedo Tubes, ASW-aircraft, RUM-139 VL-ASROC Users: Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force Brazilian Navy Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force Indian Navy Mexican Navy Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Netherlands Navy Royal Norwegian Air Force Royal Air Force US Navy Republic of China Navy |
| images |
                   Mk.54 MAKO lightweight torpedo in the weapons-bay of a ASW-aircraft      Mk.54 recoverable exercise torpedo (REXTORP) during recovery   Mk.54 torepdo loading exercise into Mk.32 surface vessel torpedo tubes (SVTT)  Mk.54 torepdo loading exercise into Mk.32 surface vessel torpedo tubes (SVTT)  Mk.54 torpedo on an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter  Mk.54 torpedo on an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter  cutout  Mk.54 torpedo was launched from an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter  Mk.54 torpedo was launched from a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA)  US Navy info-sheet |
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