UAE may be able to target Iranian submarines at base

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) may be able to target Iranian Kilo class submarines at their home base. It has been reported by multiple sources that they have purchased vessels armed with the world’s longest-range torpedo.

IHS Janes reported that the German government had exported “floating platforms with torpedo-launching gear” to the UAE in 2014.

It is widely believed that vessels recently purchased by the UAE, the Rmah class, were purchased to launch DM2A4 Seehecht, export designation ‘SeaHake mod 4 ER’, which was developed by Atlas Elektronik for the German Navy as a further update of DM2 torpedo which was released in 1976. It features an advanced electrical propulsion system and a fibre optic cable for torpedo guidance and communication, which, in conjunction with advanced signals processing and mission logic, makes the torpedo largely countermeasure resistant.

The weapon is armed with a 260 kg PBX, (RDX–aluminium) warhead (equivalent to 460 kg of TNT) with magnetic influence and contact fuses.

The torpedo achieved a range of 140 kilometres at a test firing back in 2012 and set a new world record.