A244-S

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A244-S Torpedo
KRI REM 331 Torpedo Firing Exercise.jpg
Indonesian Navy frigate KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata during torpedo firing exercise with WASS A244-S Mod.3 lightweight torpedo (training head).
TypeLightweight torpedo
Place of origin Italy
Service history
In service1982
Production history
Manufacturer WASS
Specifications
Mass254 kg (560 lb)
Length2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Diameter324 mm (12.8 in)

Effective firing range13.5 km (7.3 nmi)
Maximum firing range6 km for Mod. 1, 13.5 km for Mod. 3
Warhead high explosive STANAG 4439 and MURAT-2 compliant
Warhead weight45 kg (99 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
various

Enginecontra-rotating direct-drive brushless electric motor
PropellantAgCl-Mg battery
Maximum depth600 m
Maximum speed 30/39 kn [16/20 m/s]
Guidance
system
active / passive acoustic homing
Steering
system
CIACIO-S seeker
Launch
platform
Vessel / aircraft / helicopter

The A244-s is an Italian lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. It can be launched from surface vessels or aircraft and locates the target using an acoustic seeker.

Contents

Description

The torpedo uses a CIACIO-S seeker, consisting of an acoustic homing head containing the transducer assembly, transmitter, and related Beamforming circuits, and a frame housing all the remaining electronic components. The homing head is capable of active, passive, or mixed modes for closing onto its target. It can also discriminate between decoys and real targets in the presence of heavy reverberations especially emitted pulses and signal processing.

The latest version is the A244-S mod.3 torpedo.

The A244/s are developed and manufactured by the Italian WASS (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei) firm.

Operators

Map with A244-S operators in blue A244-S operators.png
Map with A244-S operators in blue

Current operators

Future operators

Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria

See also

Bibliography

Footnotes

  1. The ET52 is the Chinese development of the Italian Alenia A244-S light ASW acoustic homing torpedo and is considered by many domestic Chinese sources as the equivalent of the A244-S Mod.2 version. ET52 is essentially the A244-S torpedo with technologies of US Mk 46 Mod.2 torpedo incorporated.

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References