Projects
SEA 1429 Phase 2 – Replacement Heavyweight Torpedo
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Current Status Contact |
Project Overview
Project SEA 1429 Phase 2 Replacement Heavyweight Torpedo will acquire a replacement anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) heavyweight torpedo for the COLLINS Class submarine. This acquisition is to replace the Mk 48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedo (HWT) currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Australian and the United States Governments has been established to jointly develop the Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) Heavyweight Torpedo. A Joint Project Office (JPO) has been established in Washington DC to manage the CBASS program under an Armaments Cooperative Project arrangement.
The Project Scope includes the acquisition of the weapons, associated logistic support, weapon system interface equipment and transition into service.
The submarines will be progressively upgraded to accommodate the Replacement Heavyweight Torpedo, in conjunction with the Replacement Combat System (SEA 1439 Phase 4A), as part of the submarines' docking program from 2006 through to 2013.
Loading MK 48 into COLLINS Class Submarine
Current Status
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- The upgrade of the Torpedo Maintenance Facility (TMF) at Garden Island , Western Australia was completed in March 2005 following which it entered into a period of training and consolidation prior to Certification in July 2005.
- A Torpedo System Centre was opened at Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), Edinburgh, SA in July 2004 and a Torpedo Analysis Facility was commissioned in January 2006. This facility will be used to study the performance of the new heavyweight torpedo in a high fidelity, synthetic, controlled environment.
- Mk 48 ADCAP/CBASS Developmental and Operational Testing (DT/OT) was conducted successfully in Australian waters in late 2005 with additional firings being conducted in US waters in March 2006.
- Nautronix Ltd, a Western Australian based company, in cooperation with Project SEA 1429 has developed a portable tracking range for use in shallow water. The range is being used to support developmental and operational test torpedo firings of the new weapon system.
Destruction of the Destroyer Escort Torrens by a Mk 48 Torpedo
Contact
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Heavyweight Torpedo Project Manager:Mr. Glenn Doherty
Phone: +61 2 6266 7081
Fax: +61 2 6266 7007
Mobile +61 416 266 142
Last updated: 22 February 2008
