The
Royal Australian Navy has successfully conducted the world’s first
firing of a “war shot” MU90 Lightweight Torpedo, Chief of
Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO CSC RAN announced today. ANZAC Class
Frigate HMAS Stuart fired the explosive warhead against a specially
designed target in the East Australian Exercise Area. The successful
firing was the final milestone before the torpedo is accepted for operational
service across the fleet.
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“The
MU90 Lightweight Torpedo has already completed an extensive test program
using exercise (non-explosive) variants. This firing is the final Test
and Evaluation event for the MU90 and demonstrates the full capability
of the torpedo,” Vice Admiral Griggs said.
The torpedo was assembled and prepared at the Torpedo Maintenance Facility
at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia and Navy personnel onboard the
firing ship handled, loaded and fired the MU90 torpedo.
The target for the firing was specially constructed in Victoria by the
Defence Science and Technology Organisation and it was successfully
attacked by the torpedo. The target complied with all appropriate environmental
requirements.
“The MU90 Lightweight Torpedo provides a significant enhancement
to the Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities of all the RAN’s surface
combatant ships,” Vice Admiral Griggs said.
“The weapon provides the RAN with one of the most capable lightweight
submarine torpedoes in the world.”
The MU90 Lightweight ASW Torpedo is three metres long, weighs 300 kilograms,
has a range of greater than 10 kilometres and is designed to detect
and attack deep quiet-running submarines.
The firing success was also acknowledged by Mr Warren King, Chief Executive
Officer of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
“Delivery of this important defence capability is due to the combined
and concerted efforts of DMO, Navy, and defence industry to remediate
the MU90 Lightweight Torpedo Replacement which was removed from the
Projects of Concern list in November 2012,” Mr King said.
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