Saab Lightweight Torpedo (SLWT), named Torped 47 by the Swedish Armed Forces, is Sweden’s new lightweight torpedo system for defence against foreign submarines. The torpedo is intended primarily for Swedish submarines and Visby corvettes, but it is also prepared for integration on helicopters. FMV is now undertaking final verification of the torpedo system to ensure it meets their requirements, before commissioning with the Swedish Navy (Svenska marinen). The torpedo has been specially developed for the environment in the Baltic Sea with its shallow water and a complex topography and seabed. The torpedo has features that are unique for lightweight torpedoes.
“The first delivery of our new lightweight torpedo marks an important milestone for the development project, which is one of our largest ever within our business unit Underwater Systems. Now the process of commissioning and replacing Sweden’s existing lightweight torpedo with the new one begins, with Saab ensuring that Sweden has a state-of-the-art lightweight torpedo at the forefront of technology,” said Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
The torpedo is designed for the Swedish Navy and it will be equipped with both a passive and an active homing device and use wire communication like the Torpedo 45, using a galvanic wire (later also an optical wire). Torpedo 47 can be launched from a variety of platforms including stationary, surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and airplanes like Saab Swordfish MPA.[2][3] It is specifically designed to operate against littoral submarine targets and surface vessels. It is controlled using wire guidance and has a hydro-acoustic homing system for the final phase.
The torpedo is designed and manufactured by Saab Dynamics as a replacement for the Torped 45. These place high demands on the locating and identification of submarines, as well as on navigation and communication by the torpedo. Dynamics offers ground combat weapons, missile systems, torpedoes, sensor systems, unmanned underwater vehicles and signature management systems, remotely operated vehicles for armed forces as well as civil security applications. Short range weapons offered include Carl-Gustaf, AT4/AT4 CS, STRIX and NLAW. Missile systems offered are RBS 70, RBS 23 and RBS 15.
