Torpedo under development for carriage by the F-16

[B777LR]

Not quite, the Soviet / Russian Akula and Typhoons both come with launchers for 1 SA-N-10 Igla missiles. Probably best against helicopters, but still to be taken carefully. 

I've always figured...... wouldn't the helicopter have been afforded time to respond as the submarine must surface to launch the MANPADS?

Or was the idea that the helicopter might become vulnerable thinking they've got prisoners of war instead of kills?

Think it was for a sub caught on the surface more than anything.

I did read a speculative article many years ago that claimed the Soviets had a towed, buoyant missile pack which could be deploye dunderwater and then fired when it broke surface, but I'm not sure if there's any proof it actually existed. There was also the Vickers SLAM, of course: 6 x Blowpipes wrapped around a TV camera on telescopic pole, retracting into a pressure vessel on the fin. That could be deployed at periscope depth. The rumour has always been that three Israeli subs were fitted "for but not with" this system.

If submarines have these systems, they may never be revealed though. Keeping your ballisitc missile subs a secret is still important...

[GTX]

Could be possible to also use something like the Lockheed Martin High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Concept (HAAWC) on a fast jet.

U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin to Provide High Altitude Launch Capability to MK-54 Torpedoes

ORLANDO, FL, June 13th, 2006 --

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a 12-month, $3 million contract for its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Concept (HAAWC).  The program will demonstrate delivery of the MK-54 lightweight torpedo from a P-3C aircraft operating at high altitudes (approximately 20,000) feet.

Lockheed Martin's HAAWC concept employs the Lockheed Martin LongShot® Wing Adapter Kit to allow the launch of torpedoes from high altitudes and long standoff ranges.  This technology enables P-3C aircrews to launch from outside the range of enemy air defenses.

"This is a significant operational enhancement over the P-3C's current method of launching MK-54s from close to the surface against submarine targets," said Alan Jackson, director of the HAAWC program at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.  "Currently, P-3s must descend to a low altitude to deliver the MK54.  The HAAWC concept improves the delivery accuracy and shortens the engagement time of the MK54 torpedo. This new capability will also increase the survivability of both of the aircrew and the aircraft by providing safe standoff. The standoff capability could potentially opens up the possibility for future of using MK-54s against surface targets by allowing the aircraft to launch from outside the range of a ship's air defenses."

In addition, HAAWC reduces stress on the P-3 aircraft by allowing it to stay at altitude to launch HAAWC-equipped torpedoes.  This will assist in reducing fatigue on those aircraft currently in U.S. Navy service as well as future Navy aircraft.

The demonstration will include a high-altitude launch, where the HAAWC-equipped torpedo will glide to its normal launch altitude close to the surface, and then jettison the LongShot wings prior to water entry.  From that point, the torpedo follows its normal operational procedures as it would in a launch from a P-3 from low altitude.   A Successful demonstration of this technology will assist the Navy in furthering the development of a high altitude launch for lightweight torpedoes.

The LongShot is a low-cost, self-contained wing adaptor kit that provides range extension and autonomous guidance to a family of existing air-to-surface munitions, including sea mines, gravity bombs, laser-guided bombs and tactical munitions dispensers.  No aircraft modification is required to deploy a LongShot equipped munition.  The system is completely self-contained, including a flight control computer, a GPS-based navigation system and power sources and does not require an electrical interface with the aircraft.

Jennifer Allen, (407) 356-5351
e-mail jennifer.l.allen@lmco.com

Regards,

Greg

[Joe C-P]

The problem with an air-defense system for a sub is that firing it gives away the position of the sub, which is its best defense.

As for a modern, air-launched anti-ship torpedo, I think it's an interesting concept (especially for the people on this board). Letting water in is a much more effective method of sinking a vessel than letting air in.
I might add a torpedo to my alternate version of the Su-34.