BAE Systems Secures Contract to Upgrade Sting Ray Torpedo for the Royal Navy

BAE Systems has been awarded a new contract by Whitehall to upgrade the Sting Ray torpedo, the primary lightweight anti-submarine weapon used by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The Sting Ray torpedo is currently deployed by Royal Navy ships and helicopters, including the Merlin and Wildcat, and is also used by the RAF’s new Poseidon P8 long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

First introduced in 1983, the Sting Ray torpedo has been a critical component of the UK's naval defense arsenal for decades. Deployed from helicopters or launched horizontally from Type 23 frigates, the Sting Ray's Mod 1 variant can reach speeds of up to 45 knots while targeting enemy submarines using a combination of active and passive sonar. Upon impact, its 45-kilogram Torpex explosive charge, which makes up one-sixth of the torpedo's weight, detonates to neutralize the target.

Despite receiving numerous updates over the years, the Sting Ray is now due for a comprehensive upgrade. Over the next four years, specialists from BAE Systems in Portsmouth and Fife will work to design, develop, and build prototypes of the new Sting Ray Mod 2 torpedo, which will then undergo in-water testing.

The Sting Ray Mod 2 upgrade aims to incorporate advanced technological features and expand deployment capabilities, ensuring the torpedo remains effective against emerging threats in the coming years. This development comes as the Royal Navy's heavyweight torpedo, Spearfish, has completed its mid-life upgrade and is being reintroduced into service with the Submarine Service.

The enhancement of the Sting Ray torpedo signifies a strategic move by the UK to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities, ensuring the Royal Navy remains prepared to counter current and future threats effectively.