SPEARFISH Heavy Torpedo – A three (3) year midlife upgrade prograame for the SPEARFISH torpedo will commence in 2014 by, the work being carried out by BAE Systems, which will extend the operational life to 2025.    The SPEARFISH entered full production in 1988, with deliveries completed by 2003 and stored and serviced at the Defence Munition Centre at Beith (close by Faslane).    Under the contract 180 SPEARFISH will have the upgrade and the likely allocation, always the art of the possible rather than the reality, assuming two reloads are carried on each submarine in addition to the primary weapon outfit, would be:-

Deployment	Class Numbers	Torpedo Tubes	Torpedos Carried	TOTAL Weapons
Vanguard Class	4	4	12	48
Trafalgar/Astute	7	6	18	108
Beith Maintenance	-	-	-	24

Of course torpedoes will come and go as submarines go for assisted maintenance packages or refit but the above allocations shows that we have enough to cover the three salvo option.    The Trafalgar/Astute Classes are also capable of launching TOMAHAWK and the mix with SPEARFISH on any submarine is not known.