The APR-3E airborne light ASW acoustic homing torpedo is designed by Russian Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC to engage current and future submarines at depth from the surface down to 800 metres at speed of up to 43+ knots, and it is a replacement for earlier APR-2 light antisubmarine acoustic homing torpedo.
| APR-3E | |
|---|---|
| Type | Lightweight ASW torpedo |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Russian Navy People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Tactical Missiles Corporation |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 525 kg (1,157 lb) (another 25 kg for accessory for aircraft deployment) |
| Length | 3.685 m (12.09 ft) |
| Diameter | 350 mm (14 in) |
| Warhead weight | 74 kg (163 lb) |
Detonation | Impact and proximity fuze |
| Engine | Rocket-powered turbo-waterjet |
| Propellant | Solid fuel |
Operational | >3 km (1.6 nmi) |
| Maximum depth | 540 m (1,770 ft) |
| Maximum speed | >56 kn (103.7 km/h; 64.4 mph) |
Guidance | Acoustic homing |
Launch | |
APR-3E airborne light antisubmarine acoustic homing torpedo is designed to be carried by a various fixed wing and rotary wing platforms including Tu-142, Il-38, Ka-28 and other aircraft. The torpedo requires at least 100 metres depth of water for the initial air-drop and can be deployed in conditions up to sea state 6.
Once entering water, the control surfaces of the torpedo enable the torpedo to travel in a spiral path with the help of gravity without starting the engine. During this stage, the acoustic seeker of the torpedo searches for targets. Once the target is identified, the engine starts and solid propellant rocket engine ensures the target has virtually very little or no time to react, thus increasing the kill probability.
Newest version of this torpedo is the APR-3M, with modified characteristics. Trials of the APR-3M missile have been completed, the process of its serial production has been organized and its deliveries to the Ministry of Defence of Russia are underway as of May 2019.[1]
Users: Russia purchased a small number of APR-3 for its navy, while China was reported to be the first export customer when APR-3E was part of the Chinese Be-200 ASW aircraft purchase package.