MU90 Impact

MU90 Impact
Type	torpedo
Place of origin	France  Italy
Service history
Used by	Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Australia and Poland
Production history
Manufacturer	EuroTorp
Variants	MU90 Hard Kill
Specifications
Weight	304 kg
Length	2850 mm
Diameter	323.7 mm
Warhead	PBX shaped charge warhead
Warhead weight	32.7 kg
Engine	Pump-jet Electric
Operational range	>10 km at max. speed, >25 km at min. speed
Maximum depth	>1000 m
Speed	29 to >50 knots

The MU90/IMPACT is an advanced lightweight anti-submarine torpedo used by navies of Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Australia and Poland. It is designed to compete with and outperform the US-built Mark 46 in the anti-submarine role, and is also available in a special MU90 Hard Kill version for anti-torpedo defence.^[1] The MU90 is built by a wide consortium of European companies organised as EuroTorp.

Frontal view of an MU90

Rear view of an MU90

MU90 torpedo launcher aboard F221 Hessen, a Sachsen-class frigate of the German Navy

The MU90 was the result of separate projects in France and Italy from the 1980s. In France, a project under the direction of Thomson Sintra created the "Murène" in 1989, while in Italy Whitehead started work on an A244 replacement known as the A290. In 1990 the first attempts to merge the two efforts started, a process that was completed in 1993 with the formation of EuroTorp.^[2]

Among its many features, the MU90 is capable against any current or perceived threat, including a bottomed stationary mini-submarine, known versions of anechoic coatings and various decoys. It is also capable of launch speeds up to 400 knots, allowing it to be dropped from maritime patrol aircraft flying at high speeds, or rocket-assist launchers. Powered by an electric pump-jet, it can be run at "silent" speeds to avoid giving its location away to the submarine, or "dash" at speeds over 50 km/h.^[3] It uses a shaped charge warhead that can penetrate any known submarine hull, especially Soviet double hull designs, while remaining just as deadly in shallow waters where conventional warheads are less effective.

References