The Royal Canadian Navy conducted a test firing of its new Mark 54 lightweight anti-submarine torpedo from the HMCS Regina frigate.
According to a report by CTV News, the new Mark 54 torpedo was fired earlier this month at the Canadian Forces experimental test range near Nanoose, British Columbia. HMCS Regina became the first Canadian frigate to deploy this U.S.-made weapon. The weapon was developed by defense contractor Raytheon in cooperation with the U.S. Navy.
Testing Process and Operational Objectives
In a statement by the Canadian Department of National Defence, it was noted that the tests were conducted between February 2–4. According to CTV News, the testing process was designed to ensure that the weapon could be safely and effectively used on Canadian warships, as part of the fleet-wide modernization of combat systems across all 12 frigates.
The first torpedo was tested against a stationary underwater target. During this process, sailors and weapons specialists collected performance data by observing the ship’s target detection methods, weapon preparation procedures, and launch stages, providing a basis for future upgrades.
Financial Details and Procurement Scope
In 2019, Canada planned to purchase 425 next-generation torpedo kits from the U.S. at a cost of approximately $514 million. The sale, approved by the U.S. State Department in May of the same year, was finalized without intervention from the U.S. Congress. Each torpedo kit, valued at about $1.2 million, includes enhanced guidance systems and improved counter-countermeasures. These kits allow Canada to upgrade its existing Mark 46 torpedoes to the modern Mark 54 configuration.
Platform Integration
Produced by Raytheon since 2004, Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes will not only be used on Canada’s Halifax-class frigates. According to the Pentagon, these weapons will also be supplied for CP-140 Aurora aircraft and CH-148 Cyclone helicopters.
Cmdr. Darren Sleen, commanding officer of HMCS Regina, expressed pride that his crew’s ship was the first to fire the Mark 54 torpedo. Sleen stated that these trials not only demonstrated professionalism but also contributed directly to the reliability of combat capabilities and supported personnel development objectives.
Source: C4Defence / CTV News
