The Royal Canadian Navy has validated the performance of the US-produced MK 54 lightweight torpedo through a live-fire exercise, reinforcing its role in the Halifax-class fleet’s anti-submarine warfare suite.
The torpedo was deployed from HMCS Regina at a naval test facility near Nanoose Bay, British Columbia. The exercise involved targeting a stationary underwater object while collecting data to guide future operational and technical improvements.
Officials from the Department of National Defence said the goal was to ensure seamless and secure deployment from Canadian vessels as system upgrades continue across the frigate fleet.
Technical Profile
Developed by Raytheon, the MK 54 entered service in the early 2000s, blending the MK 50’s acoustic homing system with the propulsion and warhead of the MK 46.
It weighs 276 kilograms, measures 2 meters long, and has a 33-centimeter diameter. Powered by a reciprocating external combustion engine and armed with a polymer-bonded explosive, the torpedo can travel up to 9,144 meters at speeds exceeding 40 knots and operate at depths greater than 450 meters.
Canada committed in 2019 to acquiring 425 conversion kits for the MK 54 in a $514-million deal to replace its older MK 46 torpedoes.
