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The Mk-48 ADCAP is the U.S. Navy's primary submarine-launched weapon, designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
Key specs include:
Length/Weight: About 19 feet long, weighing 3,500 pounds.
Warhead: 650-pound high-explosive payload.
Range/Speed: Up to 23 miles at 55 knots (or longer at slower speeds).
Guidance: Wire-guided with active/passive sonar for homing in on targets.
It explodes under the keel rather than on direct impact, maximizing structural damage by exploiting water pressure to snap the ship's backbone. This design makes it highly effective against frigates like the Dena, which lack advanced anti-torpedo defenses;
The Mark 48 (Mk-48) torpedo has evolved through various manufacturers over its history. Originally designed in the late 1960s by Gould Ocean Systems Division (later acquired by Honeywell), early models were produced by companies including Gould/Honeywell, Hughes Aircraft (for the ADCAP variant), and Westinghouse Naval Systems. However, current production of the Mk-48, particularly the Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) variant, is led by Lockheed Martin as the primary contractor, with SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) handling key components like the afterbody/tailcone and fuel tanks. Other subcontractors, such as Northrop Grumman (for the transducer array/nose shell assembly) and Ultra Maritime (for additional components), contribute to specific parts. Raytheon was involved in earlier ADCAP models but not the latest CBASS upgrades.
As of 2025-2026, Lockheed Martin has been actively delivering new Mk-48 torpedoes and upgrades to the U.S. Navy, including milestones like the 250th Guidance and Control Section in mid-2025. This makes Lockheed Martin the main company associated with ongoing production. |
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