Taiwan gets approval for potential sale of US Mk.48 heavyweight torpedoes

The Mk.48 torpedo.


The US State Department has approved the potential sale of eighteen (18) Mark 48 Mod. 6 Advanced Technology Heavyweight Torpedoes and related equipment to the Republic of China (Taiwan), with an estimated cost of US$180 million.

According to the US Defense Secuirty Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the torpedoes will be procured from US Navy stocks, which will include spare parts, support and testing equipment, training, logistics support, and other items.

A sale would further sour relations between the US and China which is deteriorating due to Covid-19 related issues, and between Taiwan and China as re-elected Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen strongly rejected China’s calls for reunification. The Chinese government has earlier called the potential sale “useless”.

Taiwan currently operates two World War 2-era Hai Shih-class (former US Navy Tench-class) submarines, and two 1980s-era Chien Lung-class from the Netherlands. Taiwan is also in the process of constructing a prototype submarine for a future Indigenous Defense Submarine to replace the existing models.


[1] US DSCA
[2] Naval News
[3] Nikkei Asian Review

Taiwan gets approval for potential sale of US Mk.48 heavyweight torpedoes Taiwan gets approval for potential sale of US Mk.48 heavyweight torpedoes Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on May 26, 2020 Rating: 5

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