Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $123,682,642 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. 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 is expected to be complete by July 2025. The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
The Mark 48 and its improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant are American heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships. The Mk-48 torpedo is designed to be launched from submarine torpedo tubes. The weapon is carried by all U.S. Navy submarines, including Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and Seawolf-, Los Angeles-, and Virginia-class attack submarines. It is also used on Canadian, Australian, and Dutch submarines. Mk-48 and Mk-48 ADCAP torpedoes can be guided from a submarine by wires attached to the torpedo. They can also use their own active or passive sensors to execute programmed target search, acquisition, and attack procedures.
The Mk48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is optimized for both the deep and littoral waters and has advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities. The MK48 ADCAP Mod 7 (CBASS) torpedo is the result of a Joint Development Program with the Royal Australian Navy and reached Initial Operational Capability in 2006.[8] The modular Mod 7 variant increases sonar bandwidth, enabling it to transmit and receive pings over a wider frequency band, taking advantage of broadband signal processing techniques to greatly improve search, acquisition, and attack effectiveness. This version is much more resistant to enemy countermeasures.
The MK48 torpedo is the 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. Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) build and integrate afterbody/tailcone sections of the MK48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The afterbody/tailcone comprises 26 major sub-assemblies requiring the integration of greater than 500 piece parts. Its sections include the: Afterbody shell, Steering assembly, Tailcone assembly, Engine assembly, Coolant system, Fuel delivery system, Hydraulic system, Alternator/regulator, Lube oil pump and Type 2 cables