Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract option by the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to provide intermediate-level maintenance for all MK-48 torpedoes.
Under the $10m agreement, Lockheed will provide infrastructure support, quality assurance, training, audit support, pier-side services and ordnance handling.
The initial contract was awarded in 2013 and the current option brings the total value to more than $18m.
Lockheed Martin information systems and global solutions C4ISR vice-president Dr Rob Smith said: "Working in unison, our teams established a diligent process that ensures reliability and helps reduce life cycle costs for the navy’s torpedo enterprise."
The work will be carried out at the US Navy’s facility in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the navy will provide the required parts, equipment and procedures.
Intermediate-level maintenance will be performed by Lockheed for the exercise and wartime-ready ‘warshot’ configurations of the MK-48.
The torpedo is designed to be used as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) weapon for all classes of submarines.
Earlier in 2013 Lockheed was tasked with the production of the MK-48 mod 7 common-broadband advanced sonar system (CBASS) and functional-item replacement (FIR) kits.
Image: MK-48 heavyweight torpedo launched from a submarine. Photo: courtesy of the Lockheed Martin Corporation.
