The Black-Shark torpedo is an advanced and lethal naval weapon, which is in the arsenal of the Italian Navy since 2004. It is a heavyweight torpedo which was designed and produced by the Italian firm WASS Submarine System, whose specialty is the development and construction of torpedoes and sonars. It was conceived to be launched from both submarines and surface vessels. Its common platforms are the Italian Todaro-class submarine, which is a further development of the German Type 212A boat, and the Italian Orizzonte-class destroyers. It is also used by Spanish Navy's S-80 sub.
The Black-Shark torpedo was designed to counter menace by any type of surface warship, being capable of sinking large-size vessels. Since it is a heavyweight torpedo, with a 350-kg warhead, it can even sink large aircraft carriers. It can also be fired at any type of enemy submarine and hit it with precision. This underwater weapon can also be launched from the Norwegian Navy's Ula-class submarine.
Technical Characteristics
The Black-Shark is a powerful, long-range, and fully-stealth heavyweight torpedo, with a total weight of 1,600 kg. Once launched, it is guided by fiber-optic wire. It has non-Doppler shifted target discrimination capability. It is equipped with an electrical propulsion system and acoustic head shape, which was designed to reduce flow noise. The acoustic head of the Black-Shark, named ASTRA (Advanced Sonar Transmitting and Receiving Architecture), is a very advanced active and passive acoustic head for modern torpedoes. It is simple to interface with ship sensors and computing units.
Specifications
Type: heavyweight anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedo
Weight: 1,600 kg
Length: 6.3 m (21 feet)
Diameter: 533-mm (21 inches)
Warhead Weight: 350 kg
Warhead Type: High Explosive
Guidance: fiber-optic wire guidance communication link.
Propulsion: contra-rotating, direct-drive brushless electrical motor.
Range: 70 km
Maximum Speed: 50 knots (93 km/h)
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| Above, side view of the Black-Shark, which is 6.3 m in length. |
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| Rear view of the torpedo shows the contra-rotating propeller blades. |
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