Mk 54 Torpedos: The acquisition of Mk54 torpedoes and command and control infrastructure for the German Navy’s expanding maritime network was announced simultaneously.
On June 5, 2024, the German Parliamentary Budget Committee approved defense investments totaling €1 billion ($1.08 billion) for these naval items, 155-millimeter munitions, and 1,500 Army trucks.
Mk 54 Torpedos
The US government will supply the service with Mk54 torpedoes for its three brand-new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which it ordered in November of last year. This comes after the Committee approved the purchase of five additional P-8As in 2021. Since 2004, these anti-submarine warfare weapons have been developed by Raytheon, a prominent US missile manufacturer.
The Mk54 can identify, track, and attack underwater targets. The Mk54 torpedo takes the place of the Mk46 torpedo that the US Navy used to launch from surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. It can function both in shallow and deep water environments.
Notwithstanding the US, the torpedo is utilized by the Indian Naval force, Illustrious Australian Naval force, Regal Thai Naval force and the UK Imperial Flying corps. Germany will specifically acquire Mk54 mod 0 lightweight torpedoes. These weapons combine COTS digital signal-processing technology with existing hardware and software from the Mk46 and Mk50 torpedo programs.
The Mk54 mod 0 arrived at starting functional ability (IOC) in 2004, while the following cycle, mod 1, arrived at IOC in 2023. Mod 1 is the most recent version, and it gives the sonar array assembly and the electronics that go with it a hardware upgrade.
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Expanding maritime network
A brand-new Maritime Operations Center The so-called “German Mission Network – Block II” (GMN-2) maritime network will also be enhanced by the German Ministry of Defense. Almost €100m from a unique asset was dispensed to unite the functional capacities of the maritime order, as of now situated in Glucksberg, in the Hanse Garisson huts in Rostock.
This includes the foundation of the Sea Tasks, the Armada Passage Point and the Sea Part Order, essentially with IT hardware. The fleet’s global “operations center” will be housed in this facility. In the new naval command building in Rostock, the current standards of command capability are expected to be met by the end of 2025. After one year, these principles will be accessible in an extended structure.
