K745 Blue Shark

K745 Blue Shark
K745 청상어 경어뢰
A scale model of a Blue Shark lightweight torpedo
TypeLightweight ASW torpedo
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
Designed1995
ManufacturerLIG Defense & Aerospace
Produced2005–present
Specifications
Mass280 kg
Length2.7 m
Width0.32 m
Operational
range
19 km
Maximum speed45+ 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.

Development

AW159 Wildcat helicopter of the Philippine Navy armed with K745 Blue Shark torpedoes taken at the Philippine Fleet Defense Expo (PFDX) 2023

The Blue Shark torpedo can be deployed from surface ships, ASW helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. Production cost for each torpedo is about ₩ 1,000,000,000.

Blue Shark torpedoes are fitted to the Incheon, Daegu- and Chungnam classes of frigates 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, and 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. The research and development program is expected to be completed in 2029.

Operators

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

References

  1. ↑ "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)
  2. ↑ "With one wrong swipe, South Korea loses $5M worth of weapons". 5 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Incheon Class Frigates / Future Frigate Experimental (FFX), South Korea". Archived from the original on 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  4. ↑ "Manila selects torpedo, countermeasures suppliers for PN's José Rizal-class frigates". Janes.com. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  5. ↑ 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)
  6. ↑ "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)
  7. ↑ Nepomuceno, Priam (18 September 2020). "Anti-sub helicopters' torpedoes, missiles now in PH: Navy chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ↑ https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/blue-shark-torpedo-is-to-gain-sharper-teeth/