| Report: Russia begins production of new anti-submarine torpedo system 04/10/2001 Associated Press MOSCOW – Russia has begun production of a new anti-submarine torpedo system capable of hitting targets 2.7 miles away and up to 3,200 feet underwater, a news report said.
If those figures are accurate, the weapon would represent an advance on most current torpedoes, which reach depths of only about 2,240 to 2,560 feet, said Anthony Watts, editor of Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems.
In addition to submarines, the new torpedo system can be used against other torpedoes and underwater objects near the surface, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Monday, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. The Defense Ministry press service declined to comment on the report Tuesday, and officials at the Russian Navy could not immediately be reached for comment.
Unidentified military officials cited by ITAR-Tass lauded the new missile system, called RPK-8, as a modern weapon with good prospects on international arms markets.
Despite the Russian military's severe funding shortfalls, the country continues to develop new weaponry and strives to recoup development costs by quickly putting items up for sale on world weapons markets.
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