India to Buy 53 Units of MK-54 Lightweight Torpedoes for its MH-60R Helicopters

The United States has approved the sale of MK 54 MOD 0 air-launched lightweight Torpedoes to the Indian government for an estimated cost of $175 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Monday.

The Government of India has requested to buy 53 MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo all up rounds. The following non-MDE items will also be included: Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP); air launch accessories; in-country torpedo training; related equipment and services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $175 million.

The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing the size of its anti-submarine weapons stockpile for its MH-60R helicopters. The Indian Navy already possesses MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes and will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

A majority of the lightweight torpedo’s hardware will be purchased directly from U.S. Navy stock. There is no known offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale may require the temporary assignment of an estimated 12 U.S. Government and 1 contractor representative to India per year, on an interim basis, for training and technical assistance, after case implementation.