Black Shark torpedo

Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei Italy developed the Black Shark torpedo as an evolution of the A184, with more advanced ECCM abilities and sonar. The advancements in electric motor design and battery allowed an increase in both range and speed.[1]

The Black Shark torpedo offers fibre optic wire for increased bandwidth and signal processing ability compared to copper wire guided torpedo types. The sonar capability include non-doppler shifted target discrimination and multi-frequency capability that features advanced spatial and angular analysis abilities.[2] The design goal for the torpedo was 300% improvement of passive acquisition and 200% active acquisition with its sonar system.[3] The brushless motor design coupled with the aluminum-silver oxide (Al-AgO) battery gives the system a top speed 50+ knot, and a range of 50 km, performance envelope.[1] Like all other battery powered HWTs, the battery power system does not suffer the loss of performance of Otto fuel II types at greater depths since there is no exhaust to deal with at greater pressures. The result is a 150% improvement in speed and 200% in torpedo endurance.[3]

In 2008 France signed a development contract for 93 heavy torpedoes for its nuclear submarines, to be delivered from 2015.[4] The F21 has since been developed by DCNS.

Meanwhile, in Italy, WASS is developing NSP / BSA (Nuovo Siluro Pesante / Black Shark Advanced), new future torpedo for the Italian Navy as result of government program A/R SMD 1/2010 [5] for development new BSA torpedoes for 87.5 million euros, within 2020:

• 12.02.2014 first test launch new NSP / BSA (Nuovo Siluro Pesante / Black Shark Advanced) by SSK Scirè [6]
• 19.06.2014 second test launch new NSP / BSA (Nuovo Siluro Pesante / Black Shark Advanced) by SSK Scirè [7]

BSA will arm Italian Todaro-class submarines, with about 80 torpedoes expected.

NSP/BSA - Nuovo Siluro Pesante / Black Shark Advanced will be on board new Italian Navy PPA vessels (Full version), with two launchers under the flight deck. Warhead weight = 350/400 kg.

 Chilean Navy

• O'Higgins class (100 in 2003) [8]
• Thompson class

 Ecuadorian Navy

• Shiri class (16 in 2012 for 24.6 million euros) [9]

 Italian Navy

• Todaro class - I and II batch (under development BSA - Black Shark Advanced -; planned about 80 torpedoes)

 Royal Malaysian Navy

• Tunku Abdul Rahman class (30 in 2003 for 90 million euros) [10][11][12]

 Portuguese Navy

• Tridente class (24 in 2005 for 47 million euros) [13][14][15]

 Republic of Singapore Navy

• Archer class[16][17]

 Indonesian Navy

• Nagapasa class submarine

• DM2A4 Sea Hake mod 4 - German equivalent using silver-zinc batteries
• Mark 48 torpedo - US equivalent
• Spearfish torpedo - British equivalent
• Yu-6 torpedo - Chinese equivalent
• A-184 torpedo - previous Italian heavy torpedo

• BLACK SHARK page on Leonardocompany.com