[rusculture]

Image South Korean MoD

South Korea's Navy test-fired an indigenously developed Navy test fired Hongsangeo, or Red Shark anti-submarine torpedo for the first time in July. The torpedo failed to hit its target and sank in the East Sea.

South Korean state procurement agency Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on Friday disclosed that the torpedo was lost in the waters near the southeastern port city of Pohang on July 25.

Hong Sang Eo (Red Shark) torpedo also called the Korean Anti-Submarine ROCket (K-ASROC), is a vertically launched anti-submarine torpedo similar to the US RUM-139 VL-ASROC. The torpedo is ship-launched short-ranged (30 Kms) solid-propelled and has a single warhead. It is one of South Korea's strategic weapon development program. Developed by LIG Nex1, the torpedo is 5.7-meter-long. The company has already built Cheongsangeo light torpedo with a shorter range of 5 kilometers.

The torpedo is expected to be deployed by KDX-III / Ageis cruisers deployed by SOKO.