OVERVIEW: The APR-1 "Kondor" is a Soviet lightweight, aircraft-launched, acoustic-homing torpedo introduced in 1972. It was designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations by fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft and ASW helicopters.

DETAILS: The designation “APR” stands for Aviatsionnaya Protivolodochnaya Raketa-torpeda (Airborne Anti-Submarine Torpedo), with the APR-1 being one of the earliest Soviet lightweight torpedoes developed specifically for aerial deployment. It had a 324 mm diameter, used an electric propulsion system powered by silver-zinc batteries, and featured an active acoustic seeker. The Kondor could be dropped from standard Soviet ASW platforms at altitudes and speeds suited to its parachute-retarded descent. It was designed for blue-water ASW and had limited performance in shallow or littoral zones. It was eventually superseded by the more capable APR-2 and APR-3 systems.

TYPE: Lightweight aircraft-launched acoustic-homing torpedo

FUNCTION: After being air-dropped, the APR-1 descends by parachute and enters the water vertically, where it activates its active sonar seeker to locate submerged enemy submarines. It homes in on sonar returns and detonates on impact with the target.

NOTE:
IOC: 1972 (APR-1)
Operators: Soviet Union
Platforms: Il-38, Tu-142M maritime patrol aircraft; Ka-25PL helicopter
Conflict used in: No confirmed combat use
Manufacturer: Soviet Union (exact design bureau unknown, under Ministry of Aviation Industry)

SOURCE:
Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems ; Russian Naval Aviation Archives ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/index.html ; Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems ; SIPRI Arms Transfers Database: https://armstrade.sipri.org