SEA has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of Torpedo Launcher Systems (TLS) in the South East (SE) Asia region following a string of contract successes. Three SE Asian navies have signed up with the torpedo and decoy launching systems specialist, which has built a successful, expanding export market on the basis of its support for the UK Royal Navy.
SEA Torpedo Launcher System
SEA’s initial success in SE Asia was the supply of a triple stack trainable NATO standard lightweight TLS for the Royal Thai Navy’s DW3000F Class frigate under build by DSME in South Korea, with the TLS acceptance achieved earlier this year.
More recently, SEA won an order to provide Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea with similar Torpedo Launcher Systems (TLS) for two new HDF-3000 frigates being built for the Philippine Navy. However, SEA’s biggest success is the on-going supply of TLS and weapons handling systems for a new class of Littoral Combat Ships under construction in Malaysia for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The systems include a significant level of content manufactured in Malaysia.
One of the major benefits of SEA’s TLS is that they can be configured to fire any NATO standard lightweight torpedo, enabling operators to benefit from the flexibility of choosing the best weapon independently and the option of re-configuring during the life of the ship.
The modular nature of the SEA TLS also means that by utilising a common tube selection panel as part of the combat management system the fire control electronics can be adapted to interface with the ship’s decoy launchers as well as the TLS.
SEA’s SE Asia Vice President, Strategic Accounts, David Hinds explains: “Based on technology originally developed for the UK Royal Navy, SEA has become a leading supplier to navies in SE Asia and we are confident that there are further opportunities in new build and refurbishment projects for frigates and other similar ships throughout the region."
