L3Harris Technologies has completed a critical test of its Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System (SCEPS) power plant, marking a major milestone in the development of the US Navy’s MK 54 MOD 2 Increment 2 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo.
The test validated the performance and functionality of the power plant subsystem, a central component of the integrated SCEPS architecture.
“We are pleased with the performance of the system during these tests and look forward to completing design verification testing of the entire afterbody later this year,” said President of Missile Solutions at L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne Scott Alexander.
L3Harris is under contract to deliver a proof-of-design for the full SCEPS propulsion package, which includes the power plant, integrated tail section, and afterbody of the torpedo.
Reviving a Proven Technology
SCEPS technology was previously used in the MK 50 torpedo but was shelved following its retirement.
Its revival in the upgraded MK 54 MOD 2 reflects the US Navy’s push to modernize its undersea warfare capabilities with faster, longer-range torpedoes and improved guidance systems.
The system uses a lithium boiler to generate heat, which then produces steam to power a turbine, creating a compact, high-energy propulsion method.
Compared to earlier propulsion systems, SCEPS allows torpedoes to reach greater speeds and engage more distant or agile submarine targets.
The MK 54 MOD 2 torpedo is designed to launch from surface ships and aircraft and will serve as a key upgrade to the Navy’s lightweight torpedo inventory, bolstering its ability to counter evolving submarine threats in contested waters.
Strengthening the Domestic Industrial Base
All development is being carried out at L3Harris’s Center of Excellence for Undersea Propulsion Manufacturing in Orlando, Florida, the only known facility in the US capable of producing SCEPS components.
Beyond its US Navy contract, the company is also independently funding prototype development to accelerate system maturity ahead of full-rate production.
