The U.S. State Division has made a dedication approving a attainable Overseas Army Sale to the Republic of Korea of MK 54 Light-weight Torpedoes and associated tools for an estimated value of $130 million. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) requests to purchase thirty-one (31) MK 54 All Up Spherical Light-weight Torpedoes. Additionally included is Recoverable Train Torpedo (REXTORP); Storage and Situation (S&I) facility; air launch equipment for rotary wing; torpedo spare components; torpedo containers; torpedo assist tools to incorporate check tools and instruments; torpedo assist providers; technical program administration, infrastructure assist, check tools sustainment, train firing help, contract administration, and preliminary Observe-on-Technical Assist (FOTS). ROKN intends to make the most of the MK 54 Light-weight Torpedoes on their MH-60R plane.
The Mark 54 Light-weight Torpedo (previously often known as Light-weight Hybrid Torpedo, or LHT) is an ordinary 12.75-inch (324 mm) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo utilized by the USA Navy. The Mark 54 was co-developed by Raytheon Built-in Protection Programs and the U.S. Navy below the U.S. Navy’s Light-weight Hybrid Torpedo program in response to perceived issues with the extant Mark 50 and Mark 46 torpedoes. The Mk 50, having been developed to counter very excessive efficiency nuclear submarines such because the Soviet Alfa class, was seen as too costly to make use of towards comparatively sluggish standard submarines. The older Mk 46, designed for open-ocean use, carried out poorly within the littoral areas, the place the Navy envisioned itself more likely to function sooner or later. The Mk 54 was created by combining the homing portion of the Mk 50 and the warhead and propulsion sections of the Mk 46.
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Introduced by the US Division of Protection (DoD) on 12 April, the Overseas Army Gross sales (FMS) contract is for the second part of South Korea’s maritime ASW helicopter procurement programme. All 12 helicopters might be delivered to the US Navy by December 2024, forward of their formal handover to the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). In securing this sale, Lockheed Martin beat-off competitors from Leonardo with its AW159 Wildcat and NHIndustries with its NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). As soon as obtained, the 12 MH-60Rs will be a part of eight Wildcats that have been acquired in 2013 below the MOH Batch I requirement. As the most recent buyer, South Korea will be a part of Australia, Denmark, Greece, India, Saudi Arabia, and the USA in flying the greater than 300 MH-60Rs which can be at present in service.
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Sea Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based mostly on the USA Military UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 household. Essentially the most important modifications are the folding essential rotor and a hinged tail to cut back its footprint aboard ships. The U.S. Navy makes use of the H-60 airframe below the mannequin designations SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. The MH-60R was formally deployed by the US Navy in 2006. The MH-60R is designed to mix the options of the SH-60B and SH-60F. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of recent Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles. All Helicopter Anti-Submarine Mild (HSL) squadrons that obtain the Romeo are redesignated Helicopter, Strike Maritime (HSM) squadrons.
