USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted the first aircraft carrierborne end-to-end at-sea test of the surface ship torpedo defence (SSTD) system, the US Navy has announced.

The SSTD system combines the passive detection capability of the torpedo warning system that not only finds torpedoes, but also classifies and tracks them, with the hard-kill capability of the countermeasure anti-torpedo, an encapsulated miniature torpedo.

The countermeasure anti-torpedo is being developed by the Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory (PSU-ARL). It is designed to locate, home in on and destroy hostile torpedoes. Over the four-day testing period, Bush engaged seven torpedo-like targets with seven countermeasure anti-torpedoes.

“These tests are a culmination of a very focused effort by the Navy including the programme office, Bush’s crew, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and our academic and industrial partners. With all seven of our shots doing what they are designed and built to do, it validates our work and significantly enhances our current capabilities,” said Capt. Moises DelToro, the Undersea Defensive Warfare Systems Programme Manager.

The US Navy currently plans to equip all aircraft carriers and other high-value units with the SSTD system by 2035.