The U.S. Navy is set to overhaul its torpedo inventory following the approval of a new congressional budget, marking a significant shift in the military's strategy to address potential conflicts with near-peer forces.
Lawmakers have emphasized the need for the U.S. to maintain a substantial stockpile of undersea weapons capable of supporting two major regional conflicts simultaneously.
Manufacturers are currently focusing on boosting supplies of the MK-48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) heavyweight torpedoes and MK-54 lightweight torpedoes to meet the minimum base requirements outlined in the new budget.
The exact number of undersea weapons required has not been disclosed, but it is based on internal estimates of potential conflicts with near-peer forces.
The Navy is also tasked with developing a plan to significantly increase torpedo production in the event of war or peacetime.
The overhaul comes as the U.S. military grapples with the aftermath of a recent 12-day exchange of strikes with Iran, which depleted stockpiles of missiles and other weapons.
Defending Israel and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Iranian counterstrikes during the conflict cost the U.S. and Israel between $1.48 billion to $1.58 billion, according to an analysis by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.
The conflict has also taken a significant toll on America's missile systems, with the U.S. using up 14% of its global stockpile of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors.
America's THAAD system accounted for nearly half of all interceptions during the conflict, due to the "insufficient" capacity of Israel's Arrow interception system.
It would take three to eight years to replenish the THAAD interceptors used in the 12-day war at current production rates, highlighting the need for increased production capacity.
Patriot interceptor production is more robust, but the U.S. is providing a number of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, leaving the exact number of remaining stockpiles unclear.
