After earlier delays, Taiwan is scheduled to receive Mk 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology heavyweight torpedoes and related equipment from the United States over the next three years.
According to the Ministry of National Defense’s 2026 budget proposal, the ROC Navy will first acquire four training simulators, followed by 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 more in 2028, as reported by the Taipei Times.
This delivery is part of a 5.46-billion New Taiwan dollar ($178 million) foreign military sale approved by Washington in June 2017. Originally set for completion in 2028, the program was extended to 2030 due to delays, including Raytheon restarting production after a two-decade gap since the last batch was delivered in 1996.
However, Taiwan’s latest budget plan indicates it is seeking to restore the original 2028 completion target. The U.S.-made torpedoes will replace the Navy’s older German-built surface and underwater systems.
Weighing 3,744 pounds (1,698 kilograms) and armed with a 650-pound (295-kilogram) warhead, the torpedo can dive beyond 365 meters (1,198 feet) and travel at speeds above 28 knots (52 km/h). It also features advanced sonar and a digital guidance system, allowing smoother upgrades to meet emerging threats, according to the U.S. Navy.
