Chinese Company Poly Technologies unveils a "Rocket Assisted Torpedo" system

Very very strange concept

Chinese Company Poly Technologies unveils a "Rocket Assisted Torpedo" system at AAD 2014

At AAD 2014 (Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition which takes places from the 17 to 21 September at air force base waterkloof near Pretoria, in South Africa) Chinese company Poly Technologies unveils its "Rocket Assisted Torpedo system. Poly Technologies, a subsidiary of China Poly Group Corporation, is a defense manufacturing and international trading company.

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Very interesting concept.

This pretty much attempts to take the ASBM idea into the ASW realm...
Also, the sonar network depicted is interesting as well, as China was reported to have already established a SOSUS-styled system in its near seas.

Also, the warhead being a light torpedo isnt so much a problem, as the WS-series MRLS would most probably unleash a large barrage upon any detected submarine, covering the entire area with a whole bunch of approx. 15km ranged Yu-7K level torpedos.

Considering all airborne and ASROC torpedos are lightweight, having a lightweight torpedo on this system is no surprise. I don't think I know of any heavy weight mk-46 class torpedos that are air launched or rocket launched.

This weapon reminds me of AShBM somewhat, although with much less range; more for near seas defence/littoral defence.


Also, the indication that this system is meant to function alongside an underwater network of sonars suggest the sino SOSUS probably has IOC in a few strategic parts of the near seas.



I doubt this system would launch in a "barrage" -- this is a relatively precise guided weapon supported by an array of offboard sensors, not a MLRS or FFAR.

Considering the recent report that terrorists tried to hijack a F-22P frigate, it is not inconceivable that terrorists would hijack a LA class SSN, park off the coast a peace-loving country and lob some cruise missiles at a kindergarten, a panda preserve or feminist cartoon studio. Every country should get one!

It would no doubt be easier to hijack an SSN than a CVN but it seems to me not much easier.

It is said using WS-3 rockets as air launch vehicle with 100KM range, working with helicopters or sonar arrays placed under sea to locate target.

Is this system aimed to temporarily overcome the current weakness of PLAN in the area submarines? That is, deploy some of these systems in coastal areas to fend off submarines launching cruise missiles (Virginia, Ohio class etc.) who are more silent than PLANs current submarines and which therefore would have a more difficult time to survive, let alone attack them?

If you mounted it in a DDG's VLS, it would greatly extend the onboard ASW kill capability when used with unmanned underwater vehicles (takes some of the workload off the ASW helicopters).