WASS unveils Flash Black NextGen lightweight torpedo

FLASH BLACK LIGHT WEIGHT TORPEDO

On the first day of Defexpo 2012, Finmeccanica company Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) unveiled the Flash Black, which according to the company, is the world’s first next generation lightweight torpedo. The torpedo, which is yet to be developed has finished the design stage and the company has made its first presentation in India. WASS is talking to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for possible collaboration.

Addressing a press meet on the occasion, Renzo Lunardi, CEO of WASS, said, “The Flash Back has been designed to meet all challenging operational requirements of modern ASW and can be launched from any platform. WASS intends to master the lightweight torpedoes’ market for the next 25-30 years.”

The Flash Back torpedo is a highly versatile torpedo that has the capabilities to be launched from any platform (underwater and AUV, UUV and USV), against any target and in any environment, including littoral waters and extremely shallow bottom depths and in the presence of the most sophisticated countermeasures. The torpedo has very high speed, long engagement range and incomparable killing probability. It is extremely silent and can be wire-guided.

According to the company, the torpedo due to its low procurement and extremely limited exercise and maintenance costs, has twice the capability-to-life-cycle cost ratio with respect to any other torpedo in the world.

On being asked by when the company is looking at completing production of the first Flash Back, WASS officials stated that it will take 26 months from the start of development. “It is a company financed project and we have finished the pre-study phase. We will take our design to various exhibitions across the world to check the interest of customers and we are already getting responses. We will present our design before the DRDO soon.”