Cylon Torpedoes Rule The Deep

The British Royal Navy has adopted a version of the U.S. Remus 600 UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) for underwater reconnaissance (including searching for mines). The U.S. Navy earlier used the similar, but smaller (80 pound), Remus 100s for this in Iraq, and the Remus design is highly regarded.

Remus 600 is an 240 kg (528 pound) pound vehicle that looks like a small torpedo. It is 3.25 meters (10 feet) long and 320mm in diameter. Carrying a side scanning sonar, and other sensors, a Remus 600 can stay under water for more than 24 hours, traveling at a cruising speed of 5.4 kilometers an our (top speed is nearly twice that.) The UUV can operate up to 100 kilometers from its operator, and dive to 600 meters (1900 feet). The UUV keeps costs down by using GPS, in addition to inertial guidance. The UUV surfaces every hour or two to get a GPS fix, and then goes back to doing what it was programmed to do.

Remus 100 was designed mainly for civilian applications (inspecting underwater facilities, pollution monitoring, underwater survey or search). But there were similar military and police applications, like searching for mines, or other terrorist activities. Australia and New Zealand also used Remus 100, and over a hundred are in use. This success led to the development of the larger Remus 600. Depending on sensors carried, each Remus 600 costs $500,000-1,000,000.

South Korea Starts Red Shark Torpedo Production

South Korea has begun production of 70 Hongsangeo anti-submarine light torpedoes (Red Sharks) for use on some of its newest destroyers.

Scheduled for deployment between 2010 and 2012, the 18ft, two-stage Red Shark torpedoes are long-range ship-to-submarine light torpedoes that will be operated aboard the korean Navy's latest Gwangaeto the Great Class (KDX- I) and Chunmugong Yi Sunshin Class (KDX- II) destroyers.

South Korea's Agency for Defence Development (ADD) said South Korean missile manufacturer LIG Nex1 co-developed the torpedo with the ADD at a cost of about $80m.

The precision-guided torpedoes are launched vertically and can fly for about 12 miles before submersing into the sea to track and destroy targets.

The country is investing about $145m in the torpedoe manufacture and will increase production in 2013.

In addition, the ADD and LIG Nex1 have cooperated to develop Shark series torpedoes which include Blue Shark (a light torpedo) and White Shark (a heavy torpedo).

South Korean torpedo test

South Korean torpedo successfully tested a homemade light Cheongsangeo (Blue Shark). Torpedo with a length of 2.7 meters and weighs 280 pounds can be fired from surface ships and maritime patrol aircraft P-3C with a speed of 45 knots, the torpedo, developed since 1995 it could reach targets at a depth of 40-50 meters.

Brazil Want Torpedo

Brazilian government intends to buy 30 units of Torpedo MK 48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology torpedo from the U.S.. This plan deals with anti-submarine weapons modernization of this country ever purchased in the mid 80's era. Funds are needed for modernization reaches 60 million dollars.