Serial production of the latest electric torpedoes UET-1 continues, and finished products are transferred to the bases of the Russian Navy. Such weapons are intended for modern submarines. Thanks to its improved tactical and technical characteristics, the submarine forces will be able to improve their combat capabilities in the fight against various targets.
Cipher "Ichthyosaurus"
For the first time, a promising electric torpedo was openly announced in 2017. At the International Naval Show, the Dagdizel plant (part of the Marine Underwater Weapons - Gidropribor Concern from the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation) presented an export version of the UET-1E torpedo, created in the framework of the project with the code "Ichthyosaurus". The existence of the UET-1 product for the Russian fleet with higher characteristics was also mentioned.
In the wake of IMDS-2017, the press reported that the development of new torpedoes would be completed by the end of the year. After that, it was planned to carry out the remaining tests and prepare for serial production. Orders for new weapons from the Russian navy and foreign navies were also expected.
At the end of February 2018, the Main Armaments Directorate of the Russian Army announced the placement of an order for the production of UET-1 torpedoes. In accordance with the new contract, Dagdizel is to manufacture and deliver 73 such items to the Navy. The contract value was RUB 7.2 billion. It was reported that by the end of 2018 the contractor should complete the preparation of production facilities, and in 2019 the customer expects the first torpedoes. The last batch should be delivered in 2023.
Taking into account the needs of the Navy, the Main Armaments Directorate was ready to consider the possibility of increasing the volume of the order. For this, the executing plant had to establish full-scale production at the required pace. At the same time, the required production volume and the required number of weapons were not specified.
Torpedo in the navy
Probably, the production of the first batch of torpedoes under the new contract did not take long. In the summer of 2018, curious photographs made in Sevastopol and dated at the end of May got into the public domain. They captured the process of loading torpedoes on board the diesel-electric submarine "Novorossiysk" pr. 636.3. The dimensions and contours of such products led to the appearance of the version that these were the newest UET-1.
A few months later, the topic of new torpedo armament was raised on the fields of Gidroaviasalon-2018. Then the management of KTRV announced that plans to start deliveries of UET-1 in 2019 remain in force. Photos of the loading of torpedoes allegedly of this type were not commented on in any way.
In February 2020, the KTRV leadership spoke about the successful completion of state tests of several promising weapons, incl. new torpedo. At the time of disclosure of this information, there was a process of registration of the necessary documentation for subsequent adoption into service. The type of the new torpedo was not specified, but the media suggested that it was about the UET-1 product.
At the beginning of 2021, KTRV again revealed new details of the current work. Then they recalled the recent completion of state tests, and also indicated that the first production samples of the new weapon entered service with the fleet. On June 21, RIA Novosti again indicated that UET-1 entered service with the submarine forces of the Navy.
Technical Advantages
The bulk of the data on the UET-1 "Ichthyosaur" product remains closed. At the same time, the main features and characteristics of its export modification UET-1E have been published. It is argued that weapons for third countries are characterized by reduced characteristics - which makes it possible to represent the approximate level of the product for the Russian Navy.
UET-1 is a 533 mm homing electric torpedo designed for use by submarines. It was mentioned that due to new components and solutions, it was possible to reduce the length of the product. Apparently, in its scheme, the product is similar to other electric torpedoes.
It was reported that the torpedo is equipped with a brushless electric motor. Such a power plant, unlike the motors of older torpedoes, does not face the problem of overheating when driving, and also does not create interference that affects the electronics of the torpedo. The engine is connected to the propeller without an intermediate gearbox. The type and characteristics of the battery that powers the product were not specified.
For the export modification of UET-1E, a maximum speed of 50 knots and a cruising range of 25 km are declared. The torpedo for the Russian fleet should show higher performance. At the same time, both versions of the Ichthyosaurus are superior to domestic torpedoes of previous generations in terms of their main characteristics.
The torpedo is equipped with a sonar homing system. The exact parameters of this system are not disclosed, but an increase in the detection range is mentioned in comparison with previous developments. The system provides search and guidance to underwater and surface targets, and is also capable of detecting a wake. In the UET-1 torpedo, only homing is provided; there is no possibility of telecontrol from the carrier.
The combat parameters of UET-1 remain unknown. The torpedo can carry a charging compartment of unknown mass. It also provides for the installation of a practical department, which allows you to perform multiple practice shooting, which is especially important in light of the high cost of a single product.
A great future
The processes of the development of torpedo weapons and the renewal of the fleet's arsenals in recent decades have faced serious problems, but they continue and nevertheless give the desired result. Another achievement of this kind is the supply and development of a new electric torpedo for UET-1 submarines.
"Ichthyosaurus" is considered as a modern replacement for the USET-80 torpedo, which was put into service more than 40 years ago. This weapon is built on the basis of modern technologies and solutions, which should provide a number of important advantages in all characteristics and parameters. The use of an up-to-date component base, in turn, simplifies production in the current conditions, and also creates a certain groundwork for future upgrades.
The 533-mm torpedoes of the new type are theoretically compatible with all Russian submarines with the appropriate apparatus. At the same time, UET-1 has so far been seen only on board one of the diesel "Varshavyanka". Whether such torpedoes will fit into the ammunition load of other ships, including nuclear-powered ones, is unknown.
At present, Dagdizel is fulfilling an order for the production of 73 torpedoes of a new type. Obviously, such a number of weapons will not allow a full-scale rearmament of the submarine forces. It is easy to calculate that the ordered number of torpedoes will only be enough to fully equip six diesel-electric submarines of project 636.3 of the Black Sea Fleet, taking into account that the ammunition of such ships also includes missiles. From this it follows that in the future there will be new orders for the same or more torpedoes.
Torpedo as an achievement
The production of the required number of torpedoes for the rearmament of all planned carriers will take a lot of time. However, even in this case, the situation looks positive. For the first time in many years, the Russian industry has developed and brought to production an electric torpedo, superior in all respects to its predecessors.
Such projects are not distinguished by simplicity, and the appearance of the UET-1 "Ichthyosaur" should be considered a real success for Russian torpedo builders. Now the industry has to work on the implementation of the existing contract and wait for new orders from the Ministry of Defense and foreign countries. The high technical level and new capabilities of the torpedo will contribute to their early appearance.
