Polish frigate ORP Gen. T. Pułaski conducts torpedo training in the Baltic Sea

The crew of the Polish Navy’s frigate ORP Gen. T. Pułaski recently conducted a training torpedo firing exercise in the Baltic Sea, employing a MU-90 Impact lightweight torpedo. The operation was supported by the rescue cutter ORP Maćko (R-15) of Project 500, whose crew successfully recovered the exercise torpedo after completion of the firing sequence.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 09.11.2025, 14:12 Reading time: 2 min

A torpedo with trailing smoke launches from a naval vessel's deck over the sea — fot. Kamil Kusier / Gazeta Morska

In brief

The crew of the guided-missile frigate ORP Gen. T. Pułaski carried out a training firing of an MU-90 Impact torpedo on a Baltic naval range. The torpedo was recovered from the exercise area by the crew of the project 500 rescue boat ORP Maćko (R-15), equipped with a deck crane and diving facilities. The MU-90 Impact has a calibre of 324 millimetres, a length of 2.85 metres, a weight of around 304 kilograms and a range of up to 25 kilometres. The exercises are held cyclically under the supervision of the Maritime Operations Centre, Maritime Component Command in Gdynia.

The purpose of the exercise was to enhance crew proficiency in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and to validate procedures and knowledge acquired during port-based training. The drill was carried out in real maritime conditions using fully operational onboard combat and sensor systems.

MU-90 Impact – advanced lightweight torpedo

The MU-90 Impact is a new-generation lightweight torpedo (LWT) developed by the Franco-Italian consortium EuroTorp (DCNS, WASS, Thales). It serves as the primary ASW weapon of the Polish Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and ASW helicopters.

Designed to engage modern, deep-diving submarines, the MU-90 features a sophisticated active/passive acoustic homing system capable of simultaneously tracking up to 12 targets. Operating in a “fire-and-forget” mode, the torpedo autonomously seeks and engages its target after launch, requiring no further operator input.

Key technical data (MU-90 Impact):

Caliber: 324 mm
Length: 2.85 m
Weight: approx. 304 kg
Warhead: approx. 32 kg PBX-3
Range: up to 25 km
Speed: over 50 knots
Operating depth: up to 1000 m
Propulsion: electric (aluminum-silver oxide battery, emission-free)

For this exercise, a training variant of the torpedo was used, equipped with onboard recorders and telemetry modules for post-mission analysis of trajectory, acoustic conditions, and guidance performance.

Support from rescue cutter ORP Maćko

The rescue cutter ORP Maćko (R-15), belonging to Project 500, provided technical and recovery support during the operation. Its primary role was to locate and retrieve the exercise torpedo after completion of the firing.

The vessel is fitted with a deck crane, diving and underwater equipment, and modern navigation and communication systems, enabling effective cooperation with combat units during fleet training and recovery operations.

Training and operational readiness

Torpedo training exercises form a vital part of the ASW training cycle for Polish Navy frigate crews, combining theoretical instruction ashore with hands-on experience at sea.

Such live-fire drills improve coordination between sonar operators, ASW weapons officers, navigation teams, engineering personnel, and communications specialists.

These exercises are conducted under the supervision of the Maritime Operations Centre – Naval Component Command in Gdynia and represent an important contribution to maintaining the operational readiness and ASW capabilities of the Polish Navy.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier