Brazilian S-70B Seahawks to be armed with MK 54 Leightweight Torpedoes

The U.S. State Department today approved the sale of MK 54 Torpedo conversion kits to the Government of Brazil for $70 million.

Brazil intends to utilize MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes on its Sikorsky S-70B “Seahawk” aircraft and surface ships.

The contract covers 22 MK 54 conversion kits - to convert MK 46 Mod 5 A(S) torpedoes to MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release today.

Also included are torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks, air launch accessories for rotary wing, torpedo spare parts, propellant, lanyard start assembly suspensions bands, thermal batteries, training, publications, support and test equipment. U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

Produced by Raytheon, the MK 54 can be deployed from a surface ship, helicopter or fixed wing aircraft to track, classify and attack underwater targets. It uses sophisticated processing algorithms to analyze the information, edit out false targets or countermeasures, and then pursue identified threats.