RAPTOR torpedo

The Strategic Capabilities Office has issued a new solicitation for the Rapid Affordable Producible Torpedo, or RAPTOR, a next-generation concept for a single-use heavyweight torpedo designed to be produced quickly and at far lower cost than the U.S. Navy’s current inventory. The RAPTOR Solicitation, identified as SCO-PS-26-01, was released on November 17 and amended on November 21, with offers due by December 17. According to the notice, the project seeks proposals for “an affordable, rapidly scalable and producible, single-use heavyweight torpedo.” The solicitation is being distributed through the classified Acquisition Research Center. As noted by the Strategic Capabilities Office, RAPTOR is a prototype concept shaped around rapid acquisition timelines. The Department of War has directed several development efforts in recent years that focus on fast production of lower-cost munitions, and RAPTOR aligns with that approach for undersea warfare. On April 10, 2024, The War Zone reported that the Navy “is eyeing a torpedo that can be procured fast and efficiently to augment the more advanced Mk 48 ADCAP.” The outlet said the program is intended to offer “quick-delivery and inexpensive submarine munitions that may be transferable to other platforms as well.” Capt. Chris Polk, the Navy’s program manager for undersea weapons, described the goal during the Navy League’s Sea Air Space symposium near Washington, D.C. In a briefing quoted by the outlet, he said, “You think I’m crazy, but this can happen, especially when you’re not making an ADCAP.” He explained that RAPTOR is planned as a “mission-specific, limited-capability weapon, but it’s still the same explosive yield.” According to The War Zone, Polk outlined an objective of producing all components within a year and keeping the unit cost “$500,000 or less.” For comparison, the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request lists the Mk 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo at about $4.2 million per unit. The cost difference is central to the project’s logic: the Navy wants a weapon that can be purchased in larger numbers without straining production lines for the higher-end Mk 48 program. The solicitation from the Strategic Capabilities Office covers research and development activity under NAICS code 54171. No set-aside is used, and the notice does not specify a place of performance. The Project Solicitation can be downloaded only through the classified ARC website, and the office has directed companies needing access support to contact the ACE Help Desk. The RAPTOR concept reflects a broader shift toward adaptable and scalable strike options. The Department of War has encouraged industry to explore designs that can be built quickly, with reduced cost drivers and simplified manufacturing demands. If successful, RAPTOR may offer the Navy a way to expand its torpedo inventory without competing with production of the advanced Mk 48 Mod 7. Heavyweight torpedoes remain central to U.S. submarine operations, and a low-cost option could help maintain inventory levels during periods of high demand.

RAPTOR torpedo

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RAPTOR torpedo

U.S. Navy eyes quick-build heavy torpedo

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