Cookie Consent by Privacy Policies Generator

USET-80


УСЭТ-80


Overview


USET-80

Display model of USET-80 heavyweight torpedo with cut-outs showing internal systems.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Heavyweight torpedo
Entered service
1980 for USET-80
1989 for USET-80K
Status
In service
Development
1964 - 1975
Developer
Soviet Union - Gidropribor
Production
1980's - present
Producer
Soviet Union - Dastan plant
Kyrgyzstan - Dastan plant
Unit cost
30 million Rubles in 2008
Designations
УСЭТ-80
USET-80 / Universalnaya Samonavodyashchayasya Elektricheskaya Torpeda 1980
Russian for "universal homing electric torpedo"
Izdeliye 2503 (article index)
Notable users
Soviet Union
Russia

Description


Introduction

The USET-80 is a late Cold War era heavyweight torpedo of Soviet origin. It was developed as a universal torpedo for use by submarines. A universal torpedo can be used against both submarines and surface targets.

Design

The USET-80 is a heavyweight torpedo with 533mm diameter. Soviet torpedoes of this diameter are longer than their Western counterparts. USET-80 uses electric propulsion which allows it to dive very deep. Possibly up to 1 km depth, or more. Maximum speed is reported between 45 and 48 knots.

Guidance

The USET-80 uses passive acoustic homing against submarines and active acoustic homing in the terminal phase. When employed against surface vessels the USET-80 uses acoustic wake homing. There is no wire guidance for mid course updates. The original USET-80 with its Vodopad acoustic sensor had a very poor track record in shallow waters and under the ice, while it worked well in deep open waters. For this reason the active homing SAET-60M was, and possible still is, used alongside the USET-80. The improved Keramika sensor in the USET-80K showed better results in shallow waters. Both sensor types were deemed of mediocre performance by late Cold War standards.

Firepower

The warhead of the USET-80 is in the 200 to 300 kg range, which is effective against both submarines and larger surface vessels. Detonation is either by impact or magnetic proximity fuse.

Launch platforms

The USET-80 can be launched by a wide range of late Cold War era Soviet submarines and modern Russian submarines. For several decades it was one of the main torpedoes found on Soviet/Russian submarines. Apparently it is not used on surface vessels or ASW aircraft.

Users

The USET-80 was adopted in quantity by the Soviet navy and continued in service with the Russian navy. The USET-80 and USET-80K remain in service today, even on modern submarines like Project 955 Borei class.

Variants

USET-80
Initial production version, first introduced in 1980. Fitted with "Vodopad" acoustic sensor.
USET-80K
Variant introduced in 1989. Fitted with "Keramika" acoustic sensor.
USET-80KM
Variant of USET-80K with mechanical fire control inputs, instead of digital as on USET-80 and -80K.
TE2
Export variant of USET-80(K?) marketed in the early 2000's. Comes in three different models.

Details


Facts USET-80
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Heavyweight torpedo
Launch platform
Submarines
Target platform
Submarines and surface vessels
Dimensions
Diameter
533 mm
Length
7.9 m
Weight
Just over 2 t
Warhead
Type
200 to 300 kg
Fuse
Impact and magnetic proximity fuse
Guidance
Homing
Passive / active acoustic homing against submarines
Wake homing against surface vessels
Sensor model
Vodopad in USET-80
Keramika in USET-80K, 1.5 km range
Wire guidance
No
Propulsion
Power source
Silver-magnesium battery, activated by sea water
Copper-magnesium batteries used as well
Propulsion
Twin propeller wakeless propulsion
Speed
Up to 48 kt
Range
18 km at 43 kt
Launch depth
Up to 400 m
Target depth
Up to or over 1 km

Related articles


SAET-60

SAET-60M was used alongside the early model USET-80, since the early models had poor performance in shallow water.

UMGT-1

The UMGT-1 uses the same Keramika acoustic sensor as used in the USET-80K, but is a much smaller lightweight torpedo.