"Military Sub-Plane" by Mecha 888
▲The whole picture of the K-745 light anti-submarine torpedo currently used by the Rokk Navy (Image from: Network)
A few days ago, the Project Management Department of the South Korean Defense Procurement Office released the news that South Korea will launch a new generation of light anti-submarine torpedo development program. The project, which is expected to be completed in 2028, will cost nearly $135 million.
▲ North Korea's various types of submarines are a greater real threat to South Korea (Picture from: Network)
As a very important anti-submarine weapon in the current naval warfare, the development of anti-submarine torpedoes has always been particularly valued by various countries, and it can be divided into two categories: light and heavy according to different calibers. In the face of the actual threat of various types of submarines in neighboring North Korea, South Korea has also invested huge manpower and material resources in the development of anti-submarine torpedoes. However, due to south Korea's early technical reserves of anti-submarine torpedoes, most of the anti-submarine torpedoes used by its navy are imported, such as the MK46 light anti-submarine torpedo developed by the United States.
▲ Korean K-745 light anti-submarine torpedo on the production assembly line (Image source: Network)
However, considering that weapons production should be based on the needs of autonomy and other aspects, coupled with the gradual progress of South Korea's anti-submarine torpedo research and development technology in the later period, South Korea finally came up with a light anti-submarine torpedo known as the K-745 "Blue Shark" in 2004, and began to be equipped with the South Korean Navy in 2005 to replace the US-made MK46 light anti-submarine torpedo that the South Korean Navy had used for many years. The successful development and equipment of the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo, on the one hand, made South Korea the eighth in the world, the third in Asia to independently develop a modern light anti-submarine torpedo country, on the other hand, it also effectively enhanced the actual combat anti-submarine capability of the South Korean Navy at that time, so the birth of the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo is undoubtedly of great significance to South Korea and its navy.
▲ South Korea's K-745 light anti-submarine torpedo can be launched from many different types of sea and air combat platforms (Image source: Network)
That's specific to the K-745 Blue Shark light anti-submarine torpedo itself, which is mainly developed and produced by south Korea's LIG Nex1 Defense Company. Its diameter is 324 mm, its own weight is 280 kg, its length is 2.7 meters, its speed can reach more than 45 knots, and it uses the guidance system of "inertial guidance + active/passive sonar guidance", with a maximum range of 19 km, of which the maximum effective detection distance of the supporting active/passive sonar guidance device for submarine targets is 1.9 km, in addition, the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo can not only be installed on the ship, but also can be airdropped by fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft or anti-submarine helicopter.
▲ Schematic diagram of the actual anti-submarine combat process of the K-745 light anti-submarine torpedo previously released by South Korea (Picture from: Network)
Therefore, the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo itself is still relatively good in its own actual performance. Of course, the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo developed by South Korea, whether from its appearance or some of the main performance points of view, can still be regarded as the South Korean version of the American MK46 light anti-submarine torpedo, therefore, it is unlikely to have much progress in performance, in order to better adapt to the needs of anti-submarine warfare in future naval warfare, South Korea naturally needs to develop a more advanced new light anti-submarine torpedo, which is the main reason why South Korea wants to develop this new generation of light anti-submarine torpedo. From the information released by the South Korean side at present, the new generation of light anti-submarine torpedoes to be developed by South Korea this time, although it still maintains the level of 19 kilometers of the K-745 "Blue Shark" light anti-submarine torpedo in terms of maximum range, but will jump out of the framework of the previousLY made MK46 light anti-submarine torpedo, and instead use its existing light anti-submarine torpedo technology to re-develop and design and produce, and will use more advanced technology, so that the new generation of light anti-submarine torpedo developed by South Korea has a better technical and tactical level. At the same time, with the future equipment of this torpedo, the anti-submarine combat capabilities of the South Korean Navy will be further enhanced.