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The existing Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines are also receiving improved weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rear Adm. Doug Perry, the director for undersea warfare on the chief of naval operations\u2019 staff, said at the same conference that his office is focused on increasing the quantity and the capability of heavyweight torpedoes, which is the \u201cweapon of choice for the foreseeable future\u201d due to its stealth and destructive capability as well as the difficulty involved in defending against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark 48 torpedo production ended in 1996. Since then, the Navy has focused on increasing the capability of its existing inventory but did not invest in buying more torpedoes to fill stockrooms. Now, Perry said, the Navy needs to do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first new torpedoes are delivering this year after the production line was restarted in 2016. These new weapons have better processing power and software, and they have an improved range due to the introduction of a stored chemical energy propulsion system previously used on lightweight torpedos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, he said, the Harpoon anti-ship missile is back on submarines after two decades, having undergone test at the 2018 Rim of the Pacific exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the Maritime Strike Tomahawk is on its way to the sub fleet; this effort adds a new seeker to the Block V Tomahawk to create a long-range anti-ship capability that\u2019s expected to reach initial operational capability in 2025, Perry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, he added, hypersonic missiles are coming to the newest Virginia-class SSNs starting in 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAcross all our instruments of lethality, we\u2019re improving readiness and capacity: We\u2019re building our [heavyweight torpedo] inventory, improving [the torpedo] capabilities, and moving forward with a number of strike weapons that give us diversity and lethality in the battlespace,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n