Northrop Grumman inks torpedo contract with U.S. Navy
NewsJuly 07, 2017
FALLS CHURCH, Va. The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $9.6 million contract, with options up to $40.5 million, to produce the transducer array/nose shell assembly of the MK 48 heavyweight torpedo, the main offensive weapon deployed from all U.S. Navy submarines.
Under the terms of the initial contract, Northrop Grumman will handle engineering and production of 45 torpedo transducer arrays/nose shell assemblies for the MK 48. The transducer array is the main sensor used to acoustically detect, locate, and guide the torpedo to its intended target.
The contract also allows for three additional options of as many as 45 units apiece, for a total of up to 180 systems over five years, and includes orders for spare parts and engineering support services.
Work on the arrays and assemblies will be conducted at Northrop Grumman’s Annapolis, Maryland facility; at the Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems facility in Braintree, Massachusetts; and at additional supplier locations. When completed, the assemblies will be delivered to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Washington, for installation into complete MK 48 torpedoes.
