MU90 Impact
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The MU90/IMPACT is an advanced lightweight anti-submarine torpedo used by navies of Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Australia and Poland. It is designed to compete with and outperform the US-built Mark 46 and European A244/s in the anti-submarine role, and is also available in a special MU90 Hard Kill version for anti-torpedo defense.[1] It is built by a wide consortium of European companies organized as EuroTorp.
The MU90 was the end result of separate projects in France and Italy from the 1980's. In France, a project under the direction of Thomson Sintra created the "Murene" in 1989, while in Italy Whitehead started work on an A244 replacement known as the A290. In 1990 the first efforts to merge the two efforts started, an effort that was finalized in 1993 with the formation of EuroTorp.[2]
Among its many features, the MU90 is capable against any current or perceived threat, including bottomed stationary mini-submarine, known versions of anechoic coatings and various decoys. It is also capable of launch speeds up to 400 knots, allowing it to be dropped from patrol aircraft flying at high speeds, or rocket-assist launchers. Powered by an electric pump jet, it can be run at "silent" speeds to avoid giving its location away to the submarine, or "dash" at speeds over 50 km/h.[3] It uses a shaped charge warhead that can penetrate any known submarine hull, especially Soviet double-hull designs, while remaining just as deadly in shallow waters where conventional warheads are less effective.
[edit] General characteristics
- Contractor: EuroTorp
- Diameter: 323,7 mm
- Length: 2850 mm
- Weight: 304 kg
- Speed: 29 to >50 knots
- Range: >10 km at max. speed, >25 km at min. speed
- Min. depth for launching: <25 m
- Max. operating depth: >1000 m
- Explosive charge 32,7 kg
