Northrop Grumman to Manufacture US Navy’s Advanced Lightweight Torpedo
BY Composights
Published: 26 Jan 2026
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $233 million U.S. Navy
contract to manufacture and qualify its next-generation MK54 MOD 2 Advanced
Lightweight Torpedo, reinforcing U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities with
enhanced lethality and propulsion. The initiative, set to begin initial proof
of manufacturing at facilities in Minnesota and West Virginia, underscores a
broader industry shift toward high-performance, lightweight structural
solutions where advanced composites and optimized material systems are indispensable
to meeting strict weight, strength, and durability goals in modern torpedo
platforms.
The advanced lightweight torpedo category inherently demands materials that
maximize strength-to-weight and corrosion resistance under extreme underwater
loading. Contemporary research and design optimization in lightweight torpedoes
explicitly models composite structures alongside metallic alternatives to
achieve reduced mass without compromising structural integrity under
hydrodynamic and shock loads a defining technical requirement for such ASW
weapons
Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) will manufacture and deliver to
the U.S. Navy a new advanced lightweight torpedo with a custom-designed warhead
to increase its lethality. Northrop Grumman will draw upon decades of
production expertise to deliver a weapon that fires from multiple naval
platforms.
- Northrop
Grumman will perform the integration and initial proof of manufacturing at
the company s facility in Plymouth, Minnesota, and Allegany Ballistics
Laboratory (ABL) in Rocket Center, West Virginia.
- The
contract, worth $233 million, covers the proof of manufacturing and
qualification phases, as well as delivery of multiple torpedoes for
qualification testing.
- Northrop
Grumman s state-of-the-art facilities and technologies allow for rapid
delivery of this urgent U.S. Navy requirement.
Dave Fine, vice president, armament systems, Northrop
Grumman: Northrop Grumman is leveraging over 80 years of innovative torpedo
technology, combined with our capacity and speed in delivery, to accelerate the
design qualification and manufacturing for the advanced lightweight torpedo.
This new weapon will provide U.S. and allied sailors with a next-generation
response to counter the most advanced undersea threats.
Details on the Advanced Lightweight Torpedo Program:
The MK54 MOD 2 was designed under a cooperative development agreement with the Australian Defence Force, led by the U.S. Navy. This upgraded torpedo will enhance the existing inventory of MK54 MOD 0 and MOD 1 variants with Northrop Grumman s advanced warhead and processing capabilities, resulting in increased performance and lethality. Capable of tracking, classifying, and attacking underwater targets, MK54 MOD 2 will operate in all ocean environments.
These capabilities are part of Northrop Grumman s broad offerings in advanced weapons that includes missiles, components, armaments, electronics, and interceptors to defeat and deter threats. In addition, Northrop Grumman s expertise in deep ocean engineering and undersea vehicles will further enhance successful integration and testing of these systems.
With nearly 100,000 employees and over 30 million square feet of manufacturing space more than 500 football fields Northrop Grumman has the capacity, scale, and agility to drive innovation at unprecedented speeds. The company s manufacturing approaches do more than just produce; they accelerate and enhance the entire process from design and development to production and testing. Northrop Grumman has invested in U.S. infrastructure, R&D, its workforce, and its supply chain to deliver today and tomorrow s national security needs.
