The Torpedoes IPT is part of the DG Weapons Cluster within the Defence Equipment and Support Organisation and provides a through life torpedo capability to the RN and RAF. Our Mission is ”to provide cost-effective supportable torpedoes”.

The Sting Ray lightweight torpedo is the main anti-submarine weapon for ships and aircraft. It entered operational service in 1983 with a planned service-life of approximately 20 years. Through the Sting Ray Life Extension programme the operational life of Sting Ray has been extended by 20 years to 2029.

Spearfish is a submarine launched heavyweight torpedo and operates from all classes of Royal Navy Submarines. This weapon fulfils the continuing requirement to maintain anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (AsuW) capability to support the Fleet.

STING RAY LIFE EXTENSION - LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDO (SRLE - LWT) (STING RAY MOD 1)

Sting Ray is the lightweight torpedo (LWT) currently in service with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

It is the main anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon for surface ships and rotary-wing aircraft, and is the only ASW weapon carried by the Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The current version of this lightweight torpedo, Sting Ray Mod 0, was designed in the 1960s and entered operational service with the RN and RAF in 1983. The main production run spanned the period from 1986 to 1992.

Sting Ray Mod 0 was designed for a 20-year life with an improvements programme scheduled for the mid-1990s. In 1990 the planned Sting Ray replacement was deferred until 2020 as at the time, it was envisaged that replacements for US and European LWTs would be required and would therefore provide an opportunity for International Collaboration. As a result, a Capability Enhancement and Life Extension programme, entitled Sting Ray Life Extension (SRLE), was approved by the Equipment Approvals Committee (EAC) in May 1995. This programme involved a major upgrade of the weapon’s hardware and software to allow prosecution of existing and predicted future targets, while also providing flexibility to adapt the weapon to emergent threats.

Through the Sting Ray Life Extension programme the operational life of Sting Ray has been extended by 20 years to 2029. The Main Production Order contract for the life extended weapon, now designated Sting Ray Mod 1, was placed with Prime Contractor BAE SYSTEMS in January 2003. To comply with revised Government Policy an Insensitive Munition Warhead (IMW) programme is also being developed for the Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo and is currently in the Assessment Phase of the CADMID cycle.

General characteristics / technical performance

Sting Ray is electrically propelled and powered by a sea water battery which combines low-noise and manoeuvrability with a high speed and deep-diving capability. It is an autonomous weapon which, having received initial, pre-launch, environmental and target information from its launch platform, uses its active sonar and tactical software to search for, localise and prosecute its submarine target. Its tactical software provides the algorithms needed to deal with complex countermeasure scenarios. Sting Ray Mod 1 will share the same hull components as Sting Ray Mod 0 and retains a shaped-charged warhead.

Sting Ray Mod 1 is intended to prosecute the same threats as Sting Ray Mod 0 but with an enhanced capability against small modern conventional submarines and an improved shallow-water and counter-counter measure performance.

The Insensitive Munition Warhead (IMW) is currently undergoing a number of safety, performance and IM compliance trials aimed at raising the technology and systems integration maturity to a point where the Department is comfortable and confident to commit to main production.

Costs / In-Service Date (ISD) / Major Milestones / Quantities

Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo is currently in the Manufacture phase of the CADMID cycle. The first 100 were delivered in June 06. IMW is expected to enter service early in the next decade.

The actual number of weapons procured and the number to be upgraded is classified.

Commercial Aspects

The Prime Contractor for the Sting Ray Mod 1 production is BAE SYSTEMS, Waterlooville (previously Marconi Electronic Systems). This same contractor (albeit under different divisional names) has been continuously involved with Sting Ray from the early, feasibility phases of the project’s life and is the Design Authority for the weapon (excluding warhead).

The Assessment Phase design for the IMW is being undertaken by MBDA Missile Systems on a sub-contract from the Prime Contractor, BAE SYSTEMS.

SPEARFISH - HEAVYWEIGHT TORPEDO

Spearfish is the current heavyweight torpedo (HWT) weapon system in all classes of Royal Navy submarines.

It provides an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface ship warfare (ASuW) capability and its speed and endurance enables it to out-manoeuvre fast and deep-diving targets.

Its characteristics have provided the Royal Navy with one of the best ASW and ASuW capabilities in the world.

A Reliability Assurance Programme was run between 1990 and 1994. This saw an acceptable measured improvement to in-water reliability problems which had delayed progress towards meeting the approved In-Service Date (ISD) 1994 and met the Agreed Characteristics. The development programme was completed in March 1994, at which point the formal Design Certification was issued.

The Equipment Approvals Committee re-endorsed the project and the Main Production Order contract (including In-Service Support) was placed with BAES Underwater Systems Division in December 1994 for a period of 10 years. All deliveries have been made in accordance with the delivery schedule and completed in November 2003. Torpedo maintenance and support is contracted with BAE SYSTEMS.

General characteristics / technical performance

Spearfish is powered by an open-cycle bi-propellant gas turbine engine, which provides the weapon with a high sprint speed, a deep-diving capability and high endurance. It has a copper-cadmium command wire data link to the launch platform which enables the submarine to communicate with the torpedo which also has an inherent capability to operate autonomously. Once initialised with target and environmental data, the weapon searches for and homes on the target, using a combination of passive and active sonar, the selection of which is controlled by the weapon's own tactical software.

A proposed new programme will examine the concept for providing heavyweight and lightweight torpedo capability through to the out of service dates of current and planned submarine new builds. The initial programme will include work to define an “Open Systems” architecture for the weapon, movement towards insensitive munitions compliance and improvements in littoral operations against advanced countermeasures.

In 2007, a programme to replace the existing copper cadmium guidewire, which is required as a result of changes to environmental legislation, will commence. As a result of earlier research, a fibre optic solution is being pursued which should also offer the potential for future capability performance enhancement.

Costs / In-Service Date (ISD) / Major Milestones / Quantities

In Service Date was March 1994 for the Initial Production Order weapons and 1999 for the first delivery Main Production Order (MPO) weapons. The Final Weapon Delivery under the MPO contract was in November 2003, one month ahead of schedule. The current Support Contract runs from Apr 2005 – Mar 2008; the actual number of weapons procured is classified information.

Commercial Aspects

The Prime Contractor for the production and in-service support of Spearfish is BAE SYSTEMS, Waterlooville (formerly Marconi Electronic Systems). This same contractor (albeit under different divisional names) has been continuously involved with Spearfish from the early, feasibility, phase of the project’s life and is the Design Authority for the weapon. In fulfilling its Prime Contractor’s obligations for the production and support of Spearfish, BAE SYSTEMS employs the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) centre at Beith through a commercial, major sub-contract, for the maintenance and support of the warshot and exercise torpedoes. This novel use of a Government facility in support of a commercial contract allows the Prime Contractor to be made totally responsible for the supply and performance of Spearfish from ‘workshop to waterfront’.

Torpedoes IPT, BAE SYSTEMS and DSDA are co-operating on the transformation of In-Service Support for the “New Era” post-April 2008 and are exploring an asset availability solution to long term weapon support.
 

Crown Copyright  - www.mod.uk