K745 Blue Shark

{{Infobox weapon

|name= K745 Blue Shark
K745 청상어 경어뢰

| image= Blue Shark Hafif Torpido.JPG

| image_size = 300

|caption=A scale model of a Blue Shark lightweight torpedo

|origin= South Korea

|type= Lightweight ASW torpedo

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|is_missile= yes

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|used_by= See Operators

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|designer= Agency for Defense Development

|design_date= 1995

|manufacturer= LIG Nex1

|production_date= 2005–present

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|weight= 280 kg

|length= 2.7 m

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|width= 0.32 m

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|vehicle_range= 19 km

|speed= 45+ knots (83+ km/h)

|guidance=Acoustic

|launch_platform=Vessel / aircraft / helicopter

}}

The K745 Blue Shark ({{Korean |hangul=청상어 |rr=Cheong-sang-eo}}) is a lightweight anti-submarine torpedo developed for the Republic of Korea Navy in 2004.{{cite web |date=1 February 2017 |title=S.Korea deploys 4 "submarine killer" helicopters against N.Korea - NK News - North Korea News |url=https://www.nknews.org/2017/02/s-korea-deploys-4-submarine-killer-helicopters-against-n-korea/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240311132000/https://www.nknews.org/2017/02/s-korea-deploys-4-submarine-killer-helicopters-against-n-korea/ |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=NK News |publisher=}}

Development

File:2023-05-12 AW159 Wildcat 003.jpg helicopter of the Philippine Navy armed with K745 Blue Shark torpedoes taken at the Philippine Fleet Defense Expo (PFDX) 2023]]

The Blue Shark torpedo can be deployed from surface ships, ASW helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. Production cost for each torpedo is at about ₩ 1,000,000,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/south-korea-navy-wrong-button-loses-5-million-worth-of-weapons/|title=With one wrong swipe, South Korea loses $5M worth of weapons|date=5 January 2017|publisher=}}

Blue Shark torpedoes are fitted to the Incheon class frigate (FFX).{{Cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/incheon-class-ffx-frigates-south-korea/incheon-class-ffx-frigates-south-korea4.html |title=Incheon Class Frigates / Future Frigate Experimental (FFX), South Korea. |access-date=2017-05-10 |archive-date=2017-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724094406/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/incheon-class-ffx-frigates-south-korea/incheon-class-ffx-frigates-south-korea4.html |url-status=dead }} It is exported to the Philippines as part of the acquisition process for the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.{{Cite web |title=Manila selects torpedo, countermeasures suppliers for PN's José Rizal-class frigates |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/manila-selects-torpedo-countermeasures-suppliers-for-pns-jose-rizal-class-frigates |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Janes.com |language=en}}

Variants

An improved variant, the lightweight torpedo-2 is being developed by LIG Nex1. New capabilities include longer range and lesser vulnerability to decoys.{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Daehan |date=5 April 2022 |title=S.Korea Selects LIG Nex1 To Improve Blue Shark Torpedo |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/s-korea-selects-lig-nex1-to-improve-blue-shark-torpedo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240311133144/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/s-korea-selects-lig-nex1-to-improve-blue-shark-torpedo/ |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=Naval News}} The research and development program is expected to be complete in 2029.{{cite web |date=5 April 2022 |title=LIG Nex1 to develop next-generation variant of Blue Shark torpedo |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lig-nex1-to-develop-next-generation-variant-of-blue-shark-torpedo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240311132709/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lig-nex1-to-develop-next-generation-variant-of-blue-shark-torpedo |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=Janes}}

Operators

{{flag|Philippines}}: Philippine Navy{{Cite web |last=Nepomuceno |first=Priam |date=18 September 2020 |title=Anti-sub helicopters' torpedoes, missiles now in PH: Navy chief |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1115827 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Philippine News Agency}}
{{flag|South Korea}}: Republic of Korea Navy