MK 54 lightweight torpedo is an advanced anti-submarine warfare weapon. Credit: US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert/ commons.wikimedia.org.

The US has approved a possible sale of MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes and associated equipment to India, in a deal valued at approximately $175m (Rs14.7bn), the US State Department announced on 7 October 2024. The potential sale will enhance India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

MK 54 is an advanced lightweight torpedo designed and developed by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in collaboration with the US Navy, and a significant portion of the hardware for the torpedoes will be sourced directly from US Navy stock.

Designed for launch from surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, MK 54 replaced the US Navy’s Mark 46 torpedo. The ability to operate in both littoral and deep-water environments enables the torpedo to hit any target irrespective of water depth.

In a notification delivered to Congress, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency outlined India’s request for 53 MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes, including recoverable exercise torpedoes, air-launch accessories, spare parts, torpedo containers, and a range of technical support services, such as infrastructure maintenance, programme management, and training.

The MK 54 torpedoes are designed for use in anti-submarine warfare, and India plans to integrate them into its fleet of MH-60R helicopters. These multi-role helicopters, which India has previously acquired from the US, are capable of detecting and neutralising underwater threats. The acquisition will allow India to bolster its anti-submarine stockpile and improve its ability to counter present and future threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

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The deal is seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen defence ties between the US and India, which Washington regards as a crucial partner in maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. In recent years, India has been expanding its defence capabilities through various arms agreements, many of them with the US.

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“The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing the size of its anti-submarine weapons stockpile,” the State Department said in its announcement. “India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”

The DSCA emphasised that the sale would not alter the military balance in the region, and there would be no negative impact on US defence readiness. Additionally, no offset agreements, which typically involve trade-offs in return for the purchase, were associated with the deal.

To facilitate the implementation of the sale, up to 12 US government personnel and one contractor are expected to be temporarily assigned to India each year to provide training and technical support.

While the proposed sale carries an estimated price tag of $175m, the final cost is expected to vary based on India’s specific requirements, budget constraints, and the finalisation of the sales agreement.