TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The United States has agreed to bring forward the delivery of 46 MK 48 torpedoes from 2028 to 2025 at the request of Taiwan’s military, it was reported Saturday (May 6).
Taiwan has ordered an additional 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which are expected to arrive in 2026, in addition to the 11 previously purchased High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), sources said Friday (May 5) , instead of 2027 and 2028.
The torpedoes were originally scheduled to be delivered in 2028, but according to the adjusted schedule, all torpedoes will be delivered by the first half of 2025 at the latest, the Liberty Times reported.
The MK 48 MOD 6 Advanced Technology (AT) Heavy-Duty Torpedo (HWT) is designed to be launched from submarines to sink deep submersibles, including nuclear submarines, as well as surface ships. Although both the Taiwanese military and the United States changed the contents of the package and the nature of the torpedo during negotiations, the final price was US$250 million (NT$7.64 billion).
They have a range of 50 kilometers, 25 percent higher than that of Taiwan’s navy’s existing torpedoes, and a top speed of 101 kilometers per hour, 60 percent higher. The MK 48 is also relatively quiet, making it difficult for targets to spot and take evasive action.
Taiwan’s existing Dutch-built submarines, as well as indigenous submarines planned to be launched in the next few years, will be equipped with MK 48 torpedoes, Liberty Times reported. The report also suggested that the military is expected to place more orders later.
