K745 Blue Shark

South Korean light anti-submarine torpedo

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

AW159 Wildcat helicopter of the Philippine Navy armed with K745 Blue Shark torpedos 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 at about ₩ 1,000,000,000.^[2]

Blue Shark torpedoes are fitted to the Incheon class frigate (FFX).^[3] It is exported to the Philippines as part of the acquisition process for the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.^[4]

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

•  Philippines: Philippine Navy^[7]
•  South Korea: Republic of Korea Navy

See also

• K731 White Shark
• K745A1 Red Shark
• K761 Tiger Shark

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

1. "S.Korea deploys 4 "submarine killer" helicopters against N.Korea - NK News - North Korea News". NK News. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
6. "LIG Nex1 to develop next-generation variant of Blue Shark torpedo". Janes. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
7. Nepomuceno, Priam (18 September 2020). "Anti-sub helicopters' torpedoes, missiles now in PH: Navy chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

External links