Heavyweight Torpedo Contributes to US Navy's Undersea Domina
Stay informed with our
free newsletters

This news is classified in: Defense Contracts Navy Undersea Warfare

Jul 19, 2023

Heavyweight Torpedo Contributes to US Navy's Undersea Dominance

  • Our work is critical to fleet demand for increased MK48 torpedo inventory

Key Takeaways:

  • The MK48 torpedo is the U.S. Navy's only submarine-launched weapon.
  • SAIC serves as the prime integrator for the MK48, providing integration as well as test support for the torpedo's subsystems.  
  • Integration of the MK48's afterbody/tailcone involves more than 500 piece parts.

The MK48 torpedo is the U.S. Navy's sole submarine-launched anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare weapon. All classes of Navy submarines use it for achieving sea control and neutralizing or destroying threats to high-value vessels.

As the prime integrator of the MK48 torpedo, SAIC builds, integrates and tests the afterbody/tailcone sections and fuel tanks of the MK48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

Undersea Warfare Systems - Market and Technology Forecast to 2031

Undersea Warfare Systems - Market and Technology Forecast to 2031

Market forecasts by Region, Platform, and Payload. Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview, Opportunities and Impact Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles

Download free sample pages More information

Often considered the torpedo’s engine room, the afterbody/tailcone controls the torpedo’s propulsion, starts and applies the power necessary to drive it from the time it is launched until it reaches its target, and steers it on its course to the mark.

The afterbody/tailcone comprises 26 major sub-assemblies requiring the integration of greater than 500 piece parts.

SAIC‘s team of MK48 subject matter experts works primarily in Bedford, Ind., near Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, where the majority of the torpedo integration work takes place. The contract's program and engineering management team is based in Middletown, R.I., near Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport. SAIC completed the design, development and delivery of an automated electrical power system test set, which is used to test the torpedo's alternator/regulator assembly, in Indianapolis.

Building on past success
For more than a decade, SAIC has provided engineering, technical and management services in support of NUWC's propulsion test facility. Our team performs facility operations, maintenance, upgrades and testing in support of the Navy's only land-based torpedo testing facility. In this capacity, SAIC's engineers and technicians routinely integrate MK48 afterbody/tailcones in preparation for tests.

The facility can test torpedoes across their full speed and depth envelopes. Our team runs these tests to capture very unique performance data for NAVSEA.



Live Export Compliance Seminar

Live Export Compliance Seminar

Alexandria, VA
Mar 31 - Apr 3, 2025

View agenda
Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology Conference 2025

Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology Conference 2025

London, United Kingdom
Jan 27 - 28, 2025

View agenda