MU90 Impact
Overview
MU90 Impact
Frontal view of MU90 torpedo on public display in 2009.
Source: Causa83 -
© CC BY-SA 3.0
Italy
1983 - 1990 (Murène program)
1991 - ? (MU90 program)
Italy - Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS)
Europe - EuroTorp
Murène (French predecessor program)
Germany
Italy
Australia
Description
Introduction
The MU90 Impact is a modern era lightweight torpedo of French-Italian origin. MU90 stems from the merger of two prolonged domestic programs for a next generation lightweight torpedo to combat both deeper diving Soviet submarines in deep water and quiet diesel-electric submarines in shallow waters. These are the Italian A290 program and the French Murène program.
Design
MU90 is an electrically powered torpedo using a pump-jet propulsor. This allows for variable speed settings and operational range differs accordingly. For an electric torpedo the maximum speed is high. The active and passive homing acoustic sensor was designed with both deep diving in open water and shallow littoral waters in mind. The warhead uses a shaped charge which is more effective in shallow waters and more suitable against Soviet double hull submarines. Two types of parachute tail assemblies can be used, one for helicopters and another for faster and higher flying maritime patrol aircraft.
Firepower
MU90 uses a shaped charge warhead with a TNT blast equivalent of 123 kg. The electric propulsion allows for variable speeds ranging between 29 and over 50 knots. Maximum range is over 12 km at maximum speed and over 23 km at most economic speed.
Guidance
The MU90 uses acoustic homing and can be used in passive and active homing modes. The homing section was designed to be effective against both deep diving submarines in deep water and shallow littoral conditions. A Hardkill variant of the MU90 was proposed for torpedo defense against inbound enemy lightweight and heavyweight torpedoes. It is unclear if the Hardkill variant was ever completed and fielded.
Platforms
The most common platforms for the MU90 are ASW helicopters and surface vessels. A special tail kit was developed for use by ASW maritime patrol aircraft sucht as Atlantique 2. EuroTorp proposed that MU90 could also be launched from submarine torpedo tubes using an adapter.
Users
MU90 was acquired by France and Italy as launching customers. Australia and Germany also acquired MU90 to supplement and replace the American Mark 46. Various other nations have acquired MU90.
Details
Media
MU90 Impact
Rear view of MU90 torpedo on public display in 2009.
Source: Causa83
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
MU90 Impact
MU90 mock-up on display at the 2014 Farnborough airshow.
Source: wiltshirespotter
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
Related articles
A244
The MU90 Impact uses components developed for the Whitehead A290 lightweight torpedo which was to be the successor for the A244 in Italian service.
Mk 46
Several nations such as Germany and Australia acquired the MU90 to replace older stocks of Mark 46 torpedoes. Other nations elected to upgrade the Mark 46 to Mark 54 instead.