FMV states on its website that Sweden's new torpedo system for anti-submarine warfare has been delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces. Torpedo System 47 will be an important asset for the Swedish Armed Forces' ability to identify and neutralise foreign submarines.
– Developing a new anti-submarine torpedo that meets all the requirements to provide the Swedish Armed Forces with increased capability in anti-submarine warfare has been a challenge. We have managed to find good solutions thanks to strong collaboration within the project and with external partners. I am pleased that we can deliver according to plan, within budget, and with better capability than required, says Magnus Lind, project manager at FMV.
Torpedo 47 is a fifth-generation lightweight torpedo developed in Sweden and replaces the currently operational Torpedo 45. The new torpedo builds on the torpedo systems developed in Sweden since the 1960s, and it has been possible to benefit from the knowledge and experiences gained from both the development and use of these systems.
Optimised for our waters
The new torpedo system is primarily intended to be used by Swedish submarines and Visby corvettes, but it is also prepared for use on helicopters. Primarily for combating submarines but also with the capability to combat surface vessels. The design of the new torpedo has taken special consideration of the Swedish Armed Forces' operational areas and the specific underwater conditions prevailing in the Baltic Sea and the Skagerrak. The seeker that locates and identifies submarines is optimised for shallow, brackish waters and challenging topography. Torpedo 47 has continuous communication with the launching platform, providing continuous target guidance and increasing safety. Endurance has also been extended. The torpedo can travel at either low or high speed to achieve the right balance between performance and endurance for the specific mission.Close cooperation
The work to develop a new lightweight torpedo began in the summer of 2013 with an initial development phase. In 2016, the project entered a more intensive development phase, and in recent years, production has commenced. All this has been done in close cooperation with the supplier Saab Dynamics, but also the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, and the Swedish Armed Forces have been involved. – The key to success in the development of Torpedo System 47 has been strong cooperation between all involved parties. It has been a project at the forefront of technology with very clear frameworks; from day one, we have put the team before the individual, says Magnus Lind.Modular system
The torpedo is built in several modules, which provides a number of advantages. Among other things, it facilitates the maintenance of the system and makes it easier to introduce new technology and add new functions. It also makes it possible to share technology and solutions with other torpedo systems or underwater vehicles in the Swedish Armed Forces. FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces have already been able to utilise this in other projects.– It is a very good feeling as a project manager to see how Torpedo System 47 has gone from preliminary design to a finished product delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces. I am also proud that this system will truly provide the Swedish Armed Forces with increased capability in anti-submarine warfare for a long time to come.
Facts
- Dimensions - 400 mm x 2850 mm
- Weight - approx. 340 kg
- Speed - min 35 knots
- Range - min 20 km
- Batteries - LiFePO4, >100 recharges
- Propulsion - DC motor/Pump-jet
- Seeker - Active and passive, fully digital
- Communication - Copper wire under shot