Taiwan is finally set to receive its long-delayed supply of Mk 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology heavyweight torpedoes from the United States, with deliveries spread across the next three years. The latest Ministry of National Defense budget confirms that the Republic of China (ROC) Navy will receive four training simulators in 2026, followed by 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 more in 2028, according to local reports.
The acquisition forms part of a 5.46-billion New Taiwan dollar ($178 million) foreign military sale, which was approved by Washington back in June 2017. However, the program has faced multiple delays, forcing the US to extend the final delivery deadline to 2030. One of the main causes was Raytheon’s need to restart production, as no Mk 48 units had been built since 1996.
Despite the setbacks, Taiwan’s defense budget proposal indicates a renewed push to meet the original 2028 completion goal. The advanced US-made torpedoes are expected to replace the ROC Navy’s older German-manufactured models, strengthening its undersea warfare capabilities.
Weighing 3,744 pounds (1,698 kilograms), the Mk 48 Mod 6 carries a 650-pound (295-kilogram) high-explosive warhead. The weapon can dive below 365 meters (1,198 feet) and reach speeds of more than 28 knots (52 kilometers per hour). Equipped with modern sonar and a digital guidance system, it can be upgraded to meet evolving maritime threats, according to the US Navy.
