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Canadian Procurement – US FMS Notice – Mk 48 Mod 7 torpedoes – May 2011 Conversion Kits for 36 'new' Canadian Submarine Torpedoes US  Foreign Military Sale Notice  —  Proposed Sale to Canada Update: HMCS Victoria ( SSK 876 ) fired its first Mk 48 torpedo at CFMETR, a CF test ranges off  Nanoose Bay, on 16 Mar 2012. The trial torpedo was instrumented but it was not revealed whether this 'fish' was a Mk 48 Mod 4 or upgraded  Mod 7. Victoria class SSK "always late/First thing you learn is you always have to wait" Canada's Victoria class submarines have spent  most of  their time in 'refits' having spent much of their previous incarnation as British Upholder class in  'open-air' storage. Compounding the SSK's problems  is being an orphan class, meaning no-one stocks parts. But sometimes DND makes its own problems. An FMS notice for submarine torpedo upgrades is a case in point. As this FMS notice notes, Canada already has the upgraded Mk 48 Mod 7 torpedo in service. As with the proposed future upgrades, these torpedoes were created by gutting Canada's existing Mk 48 Mod 4 torpedoes and replacing their systems with kit components provided by Raytheon. The Mk 48 Mod 4s are hold-overs from the retired Oberon class SSKs and obsolete by the time Canada bought the Victorias. An additional wrinkle is that, although the Victorias' torpedo tubes have the same 21-inch diameter, they couldn't fire a Mk 48. Royal Navy subs were armed with a completely different torpedo. So the question is why didn't DND dump the obsolete Mk 48 Mod 4 in favour of the British Spearfish torpedoes that armed the Victorias while they were still Upholder class? The answer is provided in DND's own Backgrounder on the Victoria class, which claims that these subs "are an important element of Canada’s strategic relationship with the United States." This document goes on to extoll the benefits of belonging to the "sub club" and participating in global "water space management". In effect, the Backgrounder says that is that "access to intelligence" would be denied were Canada not a submarine operator. But does interoperability dictate US torpedoes? The answer is no. Mk 48 Mod 7s are excellent torpedoes preferred for commonality with its Oberon predecessors. No question that upgrading existing  'tin fish'  is cheaper than buying new. But what about when the torpedo tube modifications are factored in?  Without torpedoes, SSKs cease to be weapons. But why do we want an SSK at all? Fortunately, it's not up to DND Backgrounders to rationalize procurement. That is the job of government. When an Oberon replacement was first suggested, the top priority was an under-ice capability. The Victoria class could only fit that bill if re- engined with an air-independant propulsion system. But the first  rebuild casualty was funding for a Ballard AIP. So much for procurement priority number one. And priority number two? Pretty much any concept  that is trendy at the time of asking. The Submarine Capability Life Extension Project of  1998 was supposed to result in Victoria class subs operational early in 2004. Instead, these SSKs have undergone near-endless refits  –  HMCS Victoria, for example, has spent nearly 6 years in dry dock with only a little over 100 days on sea trials. The Navy blames its government for trying to do everything on the cheap. Perhaps. But contrast with an allied navy that faced the same challenge. Denmark couldn't meet both plans and budgets. The Danes eliminated submarines and  focused on the surface fleet. The result: a newly revitalized Danish Navy based on rational plans and strict budgets. Doesn't sound much like Maritime Staff planners or the Canadian Government overseers, does it ? An edited version of  the FMS notice  (from the US DSCA)  is reproduced below: ______________________________________________   Defense Security Cooperation Agency   NEWS RELEASE   On the web: http://www.dsca.mil   Media/Public Contact: (703) 601-3670   Date: March 23, 2011 ______________________________________________ Transmittal No. 11-06 Canada – 36 MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) Torpedo Conversion Kits Washington, March 23, 2011 — The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress March 17 of a possible [FMS] to the Government of Canada of 36 MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology Torpedo conversion kits and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of  [US] $125 million. The Government of  Canada has requested the sale of 36 MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology torpedo conversion kits, containers, spare and repair parts, weapon system support & integration, publications and technical documentation, person- nel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logist- ical support. These kits will upgrade [ Canada's ] existing  MK-48  torpedoes from Mod 4 to Mod 7. The estimated cost is [US] $125 million [ Canadian $122.24 M ]. The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the [US] by improving the security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be a key democratic partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability. Canada intends to use the MK 48 7AT torpedo on their Victoria Class diesel sub- marines... Canada has significant experience with modern weapon systems, partic- ularly the MK 48 Mod 4/4M and [lightweight] MK 46 5A(S)W Torpedoes. Canada also has capable infrastructure and experience in maintaining and supporting adv- anced torpedoes. Canada, which already has the MK 48 Mod 7AT Torpedo in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional conversion kits. The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors for this sale are not known at this time. This sale will be part of a new contractor competition. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any addit- ional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Canada. There will  be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of  this pro- posed sale. This  notice of  a potential sale  is  required  by law;  it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.