ST. PETERSBURG. June 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The St. Petersburg-based Dvigatel Plant has displayed one of its recent developments, the TEST-71ME-NK TV-guided versatile electric self-homing torpedo, at the International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS 2005) in St. Petersburg.
"The torpedo was launched into production in 2000, while in 2002 it was modernized. There is also an export version, ordered by certain customers," Olga Tsvetkova, head of a Dvigatel department, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
According to her, the TEST-71ME-NK torpedo is designed to hunt down, detect, and kill both submarines and surface-ships. It can be launched from both submarines and surface ships.
The new torpedo is primarily designed to replace the TEST-71ME and 53-65KE torpedoes on Project 877EKM submarines. It is fitted with a versatile homing system, acoustic and electromagnetic proximity fuses, and the course, depth and roll guidance system. At the same time, it requires shorter preparation time, features improved characteristics, and requires a smaller crew.
The Dvigatel Plant also offers the modernizing suite, which allows 53-65KE and TEST-71ME torpedoes to be upgraded in order to meeting contemporary requirements.
TEST-71ME-NK has a caliber of 534.4 mm, a length of 7,930 mm, a speed of 40 knots (the first mode of operation) and 26 knots (the second mode of operation), a range of 20 km, an overall weight of 1,820 kg, and a warhead weight of 205 kg.