Northrop Grumman will produce and deliver an upgraded version of the US Navy’s lightweight anti-submarine warfare torpedo, designated the MK54 MOD 2.
The $233 million contract covers the development of a newly designed warhead to enhance lethality, completion of manufacturing proof and qualification phases, and the delivery of multiple torpedoes for qualification testing.
Integration activities and initial manufacturing validation will take place at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Plymouth, Minnesota, and at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, West Virginia.
The company described the effort as an urgent US Navy requirement, with accelerated delivery supported by expanded production capacity as the service targets initial operational testing and evaluation in 2027.
The MK54 MOD 2 lightweight torpedo can be deployed from surface combatants, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters to detect, classify, and engage underwater threats.
The new variant builds on the earlier MOD 0 and MOD 1 versions originally produced by Raytheon and was developed through a cooperative program involving the US Navy and the Australian Defence Force, with Northrop Grumman serving as prime contractor.
L3Harris Technologies is also supporting the program, having achieved a key milestone in August 2025 by successfully testing its Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System power plant, which underpins the MOD 2 Increment 2 configuration.
