The United States Navy has announced plans to overhaul its torpedo inventory as part of an effort to meet new congressional budget requirements and shift towards a “two-war” strategy. The move comes amid increased tensions with potential regional conflicts, including Iran.
According to Naval News, the U.S. needs to build quantities of undersea weapons sufficient to maintain two major regional conflicts simultaneously. This requirement is based on internal estimates that suggest there could be near-peer forces involved in such conflicts.
The Navy has set minimum base requirements for its torpedo inventory, which includes the MK-48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) heavyweight torpedoes and the MK-54 lightweight torpedoes. Manufacturers are now focusing on increasing production to meet these demands.
A key aspect of this overhaul is a plan to massively increase torpedo production should it become necessary during war or peacetime. This move comes as the U.S. military is already scrambling to refill stockpiles of missiles and other weapons depleted in the ongoing conflict against Iran.
The recent 12-day exchange of strikes between the United States, Israel, and Iran has cost the country a significant amount. According to an analysis by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), the total expenditure on this conflict stands at $1.48 billion to $1.58 billion.
This is in addition to the months-long conflict that has burned through a substantial number of America’s offensive and defensive missile systems. The U.S. had roughly 632 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors before June 13, but about 540 remain in its arsenal based on JINSA’s calculations.
The THAAD system accounted for nearly half of all interceptions due to the “insufficient” capacity of Israel’s Arrow interception system during this conflict. It would take three to eight years to replenish the THAAD interceptors used in the recent war at current production rates, according to the report.
In contrast, Patriot interceptor production is more robust than THAAD, but the U.S. is providing a number of Patriots to Ukraine. The exact number of remaining interceptors remains unclear due to this overlap.
The shift towards a “two-war” strategy and increased focus on undersea weapons are part of an effort by the U.S. military to prepare for potential regional conflicts. As the country continues to develop its defense capabilities, it is essential that manufacturers prioritize production to meet these demands.
Source: Fox News Latest
Based on reporting from Fox News Latest.
