U.S. Navy to overhaul torpedo stockpile under new two-war strategy
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The U.S. Navy is preparing to overhaul its torpedo inventory under a newly approved congressional budget as the military shifts toward a “two wars” strategy.
According to Naval News, lawmakers have made clear that the United States must produce enough undersea weapons to sustain two major regional conflicts simultaneously.
Manufacturers are now focusing on increasing the supply of US MK-48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) heavy torpedoes and MK-54 light torpedoes to meet the minimum base requirements set by the new budget.
THE US IS CLEARING OUT IRAN WAR CRITICAL missile stockpiles as it begins to rebuild over the years.
U.S. Navy photo taken by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Nikita Custer. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Nikita Custer)
The Navy has not disclosed the exact number of undersea weapons this would require, but it is based on internal estimates about possible conflicts with nearby powers.
The Navy also needs to create a plan to greatly increase torpedo production if necessary in war or peacetime.
The revision comes as the U.S. military seeks to replenish its stockpile of missiles and other weapons depleted in the war against Iran.
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A US Navy warship (U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM))
The cost to the United States and Israel of defending Israel and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar against Iranian counterattacks during the last 12 days of mutual attacks was between $1.48 billion and $1.58 billion, according to an analysis by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA).
Months of fighting destroyed a significant number of America’s offensive and defensive missile systems.
Before June 13, when Israel began attacking Iran, the United States had approximately 632 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors. According to JINSA’s calculations of interceptor deliveries and usage, it has approximately 540 interceptors in its arsenal. report.
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The US has used 14% of the world’s valuable stockpile of THAAD missile interceptors. America’s THAAD system accounted for nearly half of all intercepts due to the “inadequate” capability of Israel’s Arrow interceptor system.
U.S. soldiers and civilians observe MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems during a static demonstration at Katterbach Army Airfield in Ansbach, Germany, Aug. 15, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Charles Rosemond)
It will take three to eight years to replace the THAAD interceptors used in the 12-day war at current production rates.
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According to the report, Patriot fighter production is more robust than THAAD, but the US is supplying a number of Patriot fighters to Ukraine. So it is not clear how many are left in stock.
Fox News’ Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
