- The U.S. Navy's new Very Lightweight Torpedo (VLWT) will be both an offensive and defensive torpedo.
- The torpedo can attack submarines or torpedoes.
- Unlike previous lightweight torpedoes, the VLWT will be used by aircraft, surface ships, and submarines.
The U.S. Navy plans to field its first new torpedo in decades, and one candidate is Northrop Grumman's Very Lightweight Torpedo (VLWT).
Originally designed to protect aircraft carriers from incoming torpedoes, VLWT could be used by aircraft, surface ships, and even submarines. The weapon can be used both as an offensive weapon against enemy submarines, or a defensive one against inbound torpedoes.
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The VLWT, according to National Defense, was originally designed to defend the Navy’s aircraft carriers from submarines. Installed on carriers, the mini-torpedoes would be launched at the first sign of enemy attack, homing in on the incoming torpedoes.
The Navy killed the carrier defense system, but Northrop Grumman decided to continue development. The company is now marketing the VLWT as a multi-mission torpedo, capable of both attack or defense, with specific mission software loaded into the weapon’s electronic brain just before firing.
The torpedo’s offensive mode, known as compact rapid attack weapon (CRAW), is designed to give even the smallest platforms the capability to hunt submarines. The small torpedo could be carried by helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, small crewed or uncrewed surface ships, and even other subs.
Once the sub-hunter detects the presence of an enemy submarine, it drops a CRAW in the vicinity. The tiny torpedo’s onboard sensors immediately start hunting the enemy submarine, forcing it onto the defensive.
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The VLWT’s defense mode, known as countermeasure anti-torpedo (CAT), turns the torpedo into a torpedo interceptor. A ship or helicopter protecting an aircraft carrier or other capital ship could position itself in the path of an enemy torpedo, then launch a CAT. This is likely a better, more flexible defensive scheme than the now-canceled carrier defense system, allowing it to protect more ships.
Northrop Grumman believes the VLWT could be ready for production in as little as 4 years.
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Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News, and others. He lives in San Francisco.
