EuroTorp and Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) inked a deal in late February covering in-service support for the MU90 Impact Lightweight Torpedo (LWT). The deal was also significant for Australia’s relationship with OCCAR, marking its inaugural participation in an OCCAR-administered contract.
Australia and OCCAR concluded a framework agreement covering Australian participation and integration into OCCAR programs in January 2021. After being ratified by parliament, the agreement came into force in January last year. According to OCCAR, Australia's participation is focused on three programs: Tiger ARH, Boxer CRV and MU90 Impact.
The total value of the in-service support contract, which covers the fleets of Australia, France, Germany and Italy, was not disclosed by OCCAR. Tender documents reviewed by ADM put the cost to Australia at $49 million over the five years through 2028. According to Defence, a “majority” of work on Australia’s stockpile will be carried out by Thales Australia at the Torpedo Maintenance Facility on Garden Island, Western Australia.
Participation in the program also provides Australia with access to user data and information gathered from other MU90 operators. In an OCCAR statement, Major General Andrew Bottrell, head of Land Systems within CASG said that joining the contract is about the wider benefits of integration with allies and partners.
“Australia’s interest in the OCCAR Lightweight Torpedo Programme is not only in realising cost and schedule benefits from cooperation in MU90 sustainment, but in the wider benefits that arise from such collaboration including standardisation and interoperability among allies,” MAJGEN Bottrell said.
In 2021, ADM Editor Nigel Pittaway reported that the US Navy invited Australia to take part in an Armaments Co-operative Program (ACP) concerning the development of the new Mk.54 Block 2 torpedo with an eye towards replacing the MU90. At this stage, it’s unclear if that offer has been accepted or if an ACP has formally commenced. Nevertheless, the signing of an in-service support contract at the very least extends the MU90's lifespan in Australia until at least 2028, two years after the Mk.54 Block 2 is expected to enter service.