Taiwan’s military is planning to allocate $860m to purchase new mk54 and mk48 torpedoes in a move to replace its aging US- and German-manufactured torpedoes.

Defense News has reported that $300m of the total budget will be used to buy 600 mk54 lightweight hybrid torpedoes to replace mk46 anti-submarine torpedoes, while $160m is allocated for 40 mk48 heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes.

The remaining amount will be used for the purchase of 100 mk48s to be deployed on eight US diesel-electric submarines it plans to procure.

The mk48 torpedoes are designed to destroy high-speed nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships, and will replace the existing German SUT heavyweight torpedoes.

The torpedoes will be procured in phases over a ten-year period.