Taiwan is set to receive a shipment of Mk 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology heavyweight torpedoes and associated equipment from the United States over the next three years, following some significant delays. The announcement comes alongside the latest budget proposal from the Ministry of National Defense, which outlines a timeline for these deliveries.
The Republic of China (ROC) Navy anticipates receiving four training simulator systems in 2026. This will be followed by deliveries of 14 torpedoes in 2027 and an additional 10 torpedoes in 2028, as reported by local news outlet Taipei Times. This acquisition is part of a larger foreign military sale, valued at 5.46 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately $178 million), which received approval from Washington back in June 2017.
Originally, Taiwan planned to have full delivery of these torpedoes by 2028, but reports indicate that the U.S. has extended this timeline to 2030 due to production delays. The last batch of these torpedoes was delivered in 1996, necessitating Raytheon to restart production.
Despite these challenges, the ROC’s latest budget proposal aims to expedite deliveries and return to the original 2028 completion target. The U.S.-made Mk 48 Mod 6 torpedoes are designed to replace the ROC Navy’s aging fleet of German-made heavyweight torpedoes, both for surface and underwater operations.
Weighing in at 3,744 pounds (1,698 kilograms), each torpedo is equipped with a 650-pound (295-kilogram) high-explosive warhead. They boast a remarkable capability to dive beyond 365 meters (1,198 feet) and can travel at impressive speeds exceeding 28 knots (32 miles/52 kilometers per hour). Equipped with advanced sonar and a digital guidance system, these torpedoes can be more easily upgraded to meet evolving threats, as highlighted by the U.S. Navy.
Upon delivery, the torpedoes are expected to be launched from two of the ROC Navy’s upgraded Chien Lung-class diesel-electric attack submarines, namely the Hai Lung and Hai Hu. Additionally, they are also being considered for use on Taiwan’s first domestically produced submarine, the “Hai Kun,” which successfully completed sea trials in June.
