Further to the RIMPAC 2016 mention earlier, found this article in which the NZDF afforded the opportunity to validate Mk46 torpedo launches from the various assets taken to the exercise.
Ships and aircraft of the New Zealand Defence Force joined forces to hunt down an ‘enemy’ submarine and attack it with torpedoes, at RIMPAC last week.
Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, her Seasprite helicopter and two P-3K2 Orions from the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No 5 Squadron each fired a torpedo at the target, a remote-controlled underwater vehicle playing the part of a submarine.
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“The range here in Hawaii has the ability to provide almost instantaneous feedback to the crew about how accurate the drop was,” Wing Commander Hunt said.
“This allows us to externally validate our processes and procedures and ensure we have an effective combat capability.
“In New Zealand we do not have a range with this sort of fidelity and the cost of owning one would be prohibitive, which is why attendance at RIMPAC is such a major event for the team.”
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In other more recent news, at last it looks like the NZDF could be set to receive newer Mk 54 (Mod 0) LW Torpedoes in due course according to this news announcement on companies awarded (on-going) contracts to produce array kits for the Mk 54 LWT.
Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems has been granted a $23 million fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract modification for the manufacturing of MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedo (LWT) array kits, associated production support material, spares, and technical and hardware support services.
Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, this contract combines purchases for the US government as well as the governments of the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Spain, and Brazil. The MK54 MOD 0 LWT array kits program is in its third year of providing array nose assembly kits.
Ultra awarded $23 million for Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes
navalpost.com
Note that there hasn't been a FMS announcement yet on the NZDF formally acquiring the Mk 54 .... but a quick search shows others mentioned in the quote above such as
Brazil has done so.
For some additional reading, info on the
USN's Mk 54 developments (including sonar array differences).
So we know the Mk 54 is cleared for the P-8A (including different Mk 54 versions), the ANZAC Frigate's Mk 32 surface vessel torpedo tubes ... but what about the SH-2G(I) Seasprite, which is cleared for the Mk46, i.e. how practical would it be to achieve certification to carry and release the Mk 54?
Mentioning this in relation to earlier commentary on the
RNZAF thread regarding the acquisition of further Mk 46's for the RNZN.
But if it is an issue, perhaps it will be less of an issue when the SH-2G's are replaced (ideally with the likes of the MH-60R within a few years)!