UK Ministry of Defence awards contract to upgrade Sting Ray torpedo.

According to information published by BAE Systems on September 13, 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £60 million contract to BAE Systems to modernize the Royal Navy’s Sting Ray lightweight torpedo. The four-year project aims to enhance the torpedo’s capabilities.
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Artist rendering of the Sting Ray torpedo. (Picture source: BAE Systems)

The Sting Ray is a British lightweight torpedo, primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Developed in response to the increasing quietness of submarines in the mid-20th century, it entered service with the Royal Navy in 1983.

The torpedo operates through a combination of active and passive sonar, autonomously homing in on submarine targets without requiring further input after launch. Its high-speed propulsion system, powered by a pump-jet driven by an electric motor, gives it both agility and low noise, making it highly effective against both fast and deep-diving submarines.

The current version, Sting Ray Mod 1, is widely used by the Royal Navy's helicopters (Merlin and Wildcat) and surface ships. It has also been integrated into the Royal Air Force’s Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft. The torpedo can reach speeds of up to 45 knots, carrying a 45 kg shaped-charge warhead designed to penetrate even double-hulled submarines.

To keep up with modern threats, a mid-life upgrade program has been launched, with BAE Systems contracted to develop the Sting Ray Mod 2. This upgrade aims to enhance its lethality, reduce operational costs, and ensure it remains viable against evolving submarine technologies. The Mod 2 is expected to enter service by the 2030s​.

Royal Navy's torpedoes

The Royal Navy's current torpedo inventory is anchored by two primary systems: the heavyweight Spearfish and the lightweight Sting Ray. The Spearfish torpedo, in service since the 1990s, is the Royal Navy's main heavyweight torpedo.

Designed for submarines, it can engage both surface ships and submarines. The ongoing upgrade program is enhancing its capabilities with a new warhead, an improved guidance system, and fiber-optic control links, which increase both its accuracy and lethality. This upgraded version, known as the Spearfish Mod 1, has been successfully tested aboard both Vanguard- and Astute-class submarines, cementing its readiness to counter modern threats. The trials demonstrated the weapon's enhanced ability to engage targets, ensuring its integration with current submarine combat systems.