TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's purchase of MK-48 Mod 6 AT heavy torpedoes from the US has yet to be delivered, despite urgent calls for Washington to do so.
In 2017, Taiwan ordered 24 torpedoes and 4 training ones for NT$5.46 billion (US$170.2 million), and in 2020, the military ordered another 18 MK-48 torpedoes. However, the defense budgets for 2023, 2024, and 2025 reflect Taiwan’s procurement of only 28 torpedoes, Liberty Times reported.
Delivery, originally expected to be completed by 2028, was extended to 2030.
In 2023, some of the allocated budget for the torpedoes was returned to the National Treasury Administration because the US could not make the delivery on schedule. Military officials have been in close communication with American counterparts in attempts to speed up delivery.
The MK-48 is an acoustic-homing torpedo with advanced sonar and propulsion technology, according to the US Navy. Its digital guidance system makes software upgrades easy, and the torpedo is used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
The heavy torpedoes are intended for Taiwan’s domestically built submarines, the first of which is undergoing harbor acceptance tests. The prototype, launched in September 2023, is expected to be delivered in November 2025.
Between 2025-2038, the military plans to build seven submarines in three phases for NT$284 billion. The first phase will produce two subs, while the latter two stages will see three and two subs completed, respectively.
