A244-S

The A244-s is an Italian lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. It can be launched from surface vessels or from aircraft, and locates the target by means of an acoustic seeker.

A244-S Torpedo
TypeLightweight torpedo
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1982
Production history
ManufacturerWASS
Specifications
Mass254 kg (560 lb)
Length2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Diameter324 mm (12.8 in)
Effective firing range13.5 km (7.3 nmi)
Maximum firing range6 km for Mod. 1, 13.5 km for Mod. 3
Warheadhigh explosive STANAG 4439 and MURAT-2 compliant
Warhead weight45 kg (99 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
various
Enginecontra-rotating direct-drive brushless electric motor
PropellantAl-AgO battery
Maximum depth600 m
Maximum speed 30/39 kn [16/20 m/s]
Guidance
system
active / passive acoustic homing
Steering
system
CIACIO-S seeker
Launch
platform
Vessel / aircraft / helicopter

Description

The torpedo uses a CIACIO-S seeker, consisting of an acoustic homing head containing the transducer assembly, transmitter and related Beamforming circuits, and a frame housing all the remaining electronic components. The homing head is capable of active, passive or mixed modes for closing onto its target. It can also discriminate between decoys and real targets in the presence of heavy reverberations by specially emitted pulses and signal processing.

The latest version is the A244-S mod.3 torpedo.

The A244/s are developed and manufactured by the Italian WASS (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei) firm.

Operators
Map with A244-S operators in blue

Current operators
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See also

Bibliography
  • Funnell, Clifford (ed.) (February 2007). Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems, 2007-2008 (19th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2815-3.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • Friedman, Norman (February 2006). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems (5th ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781557502629.

Footnotes
  1. The ET52 is the Chinese development of the Italian Alenia A244-S light ASW acoustic homing torpedo, and is considered by many domestic Chinese sources as equivalent of the A244-S Mod.2 version. ET52 is essentially the A244-S torpedo with technologies of US Mk 46 Mod.2 torpedo incorporated.

References
  1. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, pag.728
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