After years of hesitation and amid increasing friction with China, the United States will approve the sale of the latest version of its Mark 48 (Mk-48) heavyweight submarine torpedo to the Republic of China (RoC).

The Ministry of National Defense of the RoC or Taiwan announced Taiwan will receive the improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant of the Mk-48. ADCAP is designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships.

Like Us on Facebook

The torpedoes will arm the two Dutch-built Sea Dragon-class (Zwaardvis Mk 2) submarines operated by the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). These subs will also be outfitted with 32 UGM-84L Sub-launched Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles from the United States, which Taiwan acquired under a $200 million deal.

These more powerful subs should be enough to give China serious thoughts about launching a naval invasion of Taiwan across the 180 kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait separating it from Taiwan. But to ensure China won't consider this option, Taiwan has also said it will build eight super-quiet diesel-electric submarines under its Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) Program.

The new boats will give Taiwan 10 submarines all armed with Mk-48 and UGM-84L Harpoons.

This August, Taiwan's China Shipbuilding Corporation established a submarine development center to support the construction of the diesel electric submarines under the IDS Program.

The coming decision to sell the Mk-48 to Taiwan follows a U.S. Navy decision to re-start production of the Mk-48. This torpedo, which arms all U.S. Navy submarines, is a huge, wire-guided torpedo weighing 1,600 kilograms.

It has the unique ability to circle around and again attack a surface warship it failed to hit on its first try. The torpedo is nicknamed "the keel buster" because its warhead is designed to explode beneath the keel of an enemy ship, thereby breaking its back and sinking it more quickly.

The newest version of the torpedo, the Mk-48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS), is optimized for both the deep and littoral waters and has advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities. The version is more resistant to Chinese or Russian countermeasures.

The Mk-48, which is 5.8 meters long and packs a 290 kg high explosive warhead, arms U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and Seawolf-, Los Angeles-, and Virginia-class attack submarines. It's also used by Canadian, Australian and Dutch submarines.

TagsMark 48 (Mk-48) heavyweight submarine torpedo, roc, torpedo, Republic of China, Republic of China Navy, Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) Program, Taiwan