
MU90 LWT sea acceptance firings showing unprecedented success rate
After
the completion of the Torpedo Reliability Demonstration Programme (TRDP) and the
introduction of the BLOCK1 upgrade into the weapons in order to maximize reliability, the
MU90 LWT sea acceptance firings together with torpedo deliveries to customers are running
at full steam.
EUROTORP proudly announce:
The MU90 has already been introduced into service by the French Navy.
Two batches of
torpedoes have been accepted and delivered in 2007 and a third batch has been accepted
and delivered in March 2008.
An unprecedented level of 100% sea acceptance firing
success rate has been achieved with the MU90 BLOCK1 giving evidence to the clients of the
outstanding quality, reliability and performance of the product. More than one hundred and
fifty MU90 torpedoes are expected to be in service with the French Navy by the end of 2008.
The torpedoes will be embarked onboard the F70 frigates, the ATL-2 MPA, the ASW LYNX
helicopters and the Horizon Frigates.
For the Italian Navy, one batch of rounds is on the way to be cleared for delivery and a
second batch will be delivered in April 2008. One hundred MU90 torpedoes are expected to
be in service with the Italian Navy by the end 2008. The torpedoes will be embarked onboard
the Durand De La Penne Frigates including the associated MILAS ASW rocket, Maestrale
Class Frigates, the Garibaldi carrier and ultimately the Horizon Frigates. Two batches of
MU90 have been already cleared for delivery to the German Navy for the F124 Frigates and
additional MU90 batches are running sea acceptance firings. The MU90 LWT assets of the
Danish Navy will be cleared in 2008 in order to equip the Danish Stanflex 300 Multi-role
vessels and cleared in 2009 for the Polish Navy to equip the FFG-7 Frigates as well as the
MI-14 ASW helicopters.
The first batch of MU90 torpedoes has also been delivered to Australia for the Royal
Australian Navy (RAN). The torpedoes were ordered from Eurotorp under Joint Project 2070,
and managed through the ‘Djimindi Alliance’. The Alliance groups Australia's Defence
Materiel Organisation (DMO), Eurotorp and Thales Australia. Further torpedoes will be
partially manufactured and fully assembled in Australia. The torpedoes will replace Mk 46
lightweight torpedoes aboard the RAN's Adelaide-class and Anzac-class frigates. This year
will also see a MU90 torpedo maintenance infrastructure facility opened by the Djimindi
Alliance at HMAS Stirling (near Perth) and the MU90 exercise firing program commence in
Australian waters.
Last but not least, in June 2007 a MU90 LWT user’s group was established between the
French, Italian and German Navies. The aim of the group is to minimize MU90 logistic
support costs for the three navies and to facilitate the sharing of fleet exercise firing results,
experiences and relevant technical data. It is anticipated that other user navies will join this
group in the future either in a full member or observer capacity.
March 19th, 2008.



