The Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo is a standard 12.75 inch torpedo used to destroy hostile submarines. It’s been in the Navy’s use since 2004, and is manufactured and sold by American defense contractor, Raytheon Systems. Each torpedo costs about $840,000 and weighs 608 pounds. They travel underwater at 46 miles per hour, making them faster than the world’s fastest submarine.
Mark 54 Lightweight torpedoes are currently in use by many modern Navy forces all across the world. These state-of-the-art torpedoes were developed due to various issues that were discovered in previous versions, namely the Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes.
The Phalanx CIWS
The Phalanx CIWS, otherwise known as Sea-Wiz, is a close-in weapon system that destroys hostile anti-ship missiles and helicopters. It’s the last line of defense for U.S. vessels and can save units from incoming missiles. They fire a rapid succession of bullets and use a computer-controlled radar to hit their targets automatically.
The Phalanx is outfitted on almost all of the U.S.’s Navy ships and usually holds the aforementioned M61 Vulcan cannon. The combination of these two creates an extremely potent defense system and helps save many lives.
The Mark 45 Gun (MK45)
Meet the Navy’s MK45s. These large and terrifying rifles can shoot down almost any aircraft with just a single hit. They are fully automatic and shoots 5-inch bullets that cause unbelievable damage upon impact. Mark 45 Guns are mostly used against flying aircraft, although some land targets have been destroyed by them.
These turrets are mounted on almost every U.S. Navy vessel. It can shoot up to twenty shots per minute, and will easily tear apart even the most armored targets. Mark 45 guns are also much more economical than missiles, as each bullet “only” costs around $75,000 per shell, compared to the Navy’s missiles, which cost over a million dollars per unit.
The M91A2
Another sniper-rifle often used by Navy SEALs is the M91A2. It is manufactured by Redick Arms Development. The M91A2 is one of DEVGRU’s most popular weapons, and countless terrorists have been put to sleep using this incredible tool.
The M91A2 weighs about 14 pounds, and is 43 inches long. Like the SOCOM MK 13, it can effectively shoot up to a range of 0.75 miles. Once shot, the bullet travels at about 2,500 feet per second, making it an extremely deadly tool for long-distance targets.
The SLAM-ER Missile
The SLAM-ER missile is a highly capable and accurate ballistic weapon that can easily eliminate both short to medium-range targets on both land and sea. They have an effective reach of 170 miles and cost about $500,000 each. This makes them a lot more economical than other, larger missiles, while still being quite deadly.
The AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missiles are some of the most advanced missiles in the world, and feature advanced remote control technology that allows them to hit moving targets without risking U.S. fighters. The Navy recently contracted Boeing to manufacture more of these, and the deal was reportedly closed at around $12.3 million.