US Navy Plans Fleetwide Deployment of New Anti-Torpedo System

US Navy Plans Fleetwide Deployment of New Anti-Torpedo System
A Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo launched from the USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) in April 2014. Photo credits: US Navy
News

The US Navy plans to equip its entire surface fleet with a new torpedo defense system capable of intercepting and destroying incoming torpedoes, according to budget documents cited by Naval News.

The system will add a so-called “hard-kill” capability to the existing AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo countermeasure suite, allowing the Navy to actively neutralize enemy torpedoes using small anti-torpedoes launched from deck-mounted systems.

The service aims to deploy the new system across more than 165 surface ships over the next several years.

According to the document, the FY 2026 budget increase includes support for SLQ-25E countermeasures and development of a hard-kill torpedo defense system.

A U.S. Navy diagram showing the use of CAT against torpedoes. The CAT program was closed and incorporated into the CRAW program in 2024. Photo by Navy News

Full integration and testing are expected to continue through fiscal year 2030.

The final configuration of the system — referred to as the Anti-Torpedo Defense System (ATTDS) — will combine soft- and hard-kill elements, including improved early warning capabilities.

The SLQ-25E Nixie towed decoy will serve as the primary sensor platform, upgraded to provide fire control solutions by tracking the trajectory of incoming torpedoes and designating targets for the interceptor.

The core of the hard-kill component is the Mark 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), a lightweight anti-torpedo developed for launch from deck-mounted systems. It will supplement acoustic decoy variants in the SLQ-25 system and initially be deployed on Nimitz- and Ford-class aircraft carriers.

Russian UMT universal small-sized torpedo (on the left). June 2023. Russia. Photo credits: Russian media

The Navy has already started integrating the new components into the SLQ-25 system, with sea trials of the CRAW scheduled for next summer.

The program envisions phased procurement and incremental software upgrades as components mature. The CRAW torpedo is 85 inches (2.16 meters) long, has a 6.75-inch (171 mm) diameter, and weighs less than 220 pounds (99.8 kg). It can also be launched from submarine torpedo tubes or vertical launch cells.

In October 2024, Japan’s Mitsubishi began developing its own anti-torpedo system to protect surface vessels from Chinese submarines.

Share this post:

SUPPORT MILITARNYI

PrivatBank ( Bank card )
5169 3351 0164 7408
Bank Account in UAH (IBAN)
UA043052990000026007015028783
ETH
0x6db6D0E7acCa3a5b5b09c461Ae480DF9A928d0a2
BTC
bc1qv58uev602j2twgxdtyv4z0mvly44ezq788kwsd
USDT
TMKUjnNbCN4Bv6Vvtyh7e3mnyz5QB9nu6V
Popular
Button Text