K745 Blue Shark
| K745 Blue Shark K745 청상어 경어뢰 | |
|---|---|
 A scale model of a Blue Shark lightweight torpedo | |
| Type | Lightweight ASW torpedo |
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development |
| Designed | 1995 |
| Manufacturer | LIG Nex1 |
| Produced | 2005–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 280 kg |
| Length | 2.7 m |
| Width | 0.32 m |
Operational range | 19 km |
| Maximum speed | 45+ knots (83+ km/h) |
Guidance system | Acoustic |
Launch platform | Vessel / aircraft / helicopter |
The K745 Blue Shark (Korean: 청상어; RR: Cheong-sang-eo) is a lightweight anti-submarine torpedo developed for the Republic of Korea Navy in 2004.[1]
Development
The Blue Shark torpedo can be deployed from surface ships, ASW helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. Production cost for each torpedo is at about ₩ 1,000,000,000.[2]
Blue Shark torpedoes are fitted to the Incheon, Daegu- and Chungnam classes of Frigates[3] as well as to the Sejong the Great-class of Destroyers. It is exported to the Philippines as part of the acquisition process for both the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.[4], Miguel Malvar-class Frigates and Augusta-Westland AW159 helicopters.
Variants
An improved variant, the lightweight torpedo-2 is being developed by LIG Nex1. New capabilities include longer range and lesser vulnerability to decoys.[5] The research and development program is expected to be complete in 2029.[6]
Operators
See also
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
- APR-3E torpedo - Russian equivalent
- Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo - US Navy's equivalent
- A244-S - Italian equivalent
- MU90 Impact - French/Italian equivalent
- Sting Ray (torpedo) - British equivalent
- TAL Shyena - Indian equivalent
- Yu-7 torpedo - Chinese equivalent
- Type 97 light weight torpedo (G-RX4) - Japanese equivalent
References
- ^ "S.Korea deploys 4 "submarine killer" helicopters against N.Korea - NK News - North Korea News". NK News. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "With one wrong swipe, South Korea loses $5M worth of weapons". 5 January 2017.
- ^ "Incheon Class Frigates / Future Frigate Experimental (FFX), South Korea". Archived from the original on 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
- ^ "Manila selects torpedo, countermeasures suppliers for PN's José Rizal-class frigates". Janes.com. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ Lee, Daehan (5 April 2022). "S.Korea Selects LIG Nex1 To Improve Blue Shark Torpedo". Naval News. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "LIG Nex1 to develop next-generation variant of Blue Shark torpedo". Janes. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Nepomuceno, Priam (18 September 2020). "Anti-sub helicopters' torpedoes, missiles now in PH: Navy chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/blue-shark-torpedo-is-to-gain-sharper-teeth/