The Australian defense ministry has awarded an A$20 million contract to Thales Australia for the maintenance of the Royal Australian Navy’s advanced lightweight anti-submarine torpedo.
Minister for defense industry Melissa Price said the contract to sustain the MU90 lightweight torpedo reflected the government’s continued support for Australia’s defense industry.
“I am proud that Thales Australia has been awarded this contract to continue with the in-country, in-service support provided at its Rockingham facility in WA,” minister Price said.
“Thales Australia is among many local defence businesses providing robust, secure domestic supply chains and high-tech jobs for working Australians.”
The Royal Australian Navy has used the MU90 Light Weight Torpedo since 2013, and Thales has held the support contract since that time. The MU90 is a fire-and-forget weapon designed to counter any type of nuclear or conventional submarine, acoustically coated, deploying active or passive homing.
In addition to Australia, the MU90 is in service with the navies of France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Poland.
