OVERVIEW: TORK is a lightweight, hard-kill anti-torpedo torpedo developed by Turkey’s ASELSAN for deployment from surface ships and submarines. It uses active acoustic homing to intercept and destroy incoming torpedoes before they reach the defended platform.

DETAILS: “TORK” Turkish acronym for “Torpidoya Karşı Savunma Torpidosu”, which translates to “Torpedo Defense Torpedo”, is a counter-torpedo weapon designed to physically destroy incoming torpedoes via kinetic explosion. Developed with TÜBİTAK support beginning in 2014, the first sea trials occurred in 2018 using a fully indigenous sonar seeker. ASELSAN publicly unveiled the system at IDEF‑2015, illustrating its modular design for integration with both hard-kill and soft-kill countermeasure suites such as HIZIR and ZARGANA. TORK uses active-guided terminal homing, maneuvering toward the incoming threat and detonating at optimal proximity to neutralize it, offering defense against wire-guided, acoustic, unguided, or wake-homing torpedoes.

TYPE: Lightweight Hard-Kill Anti-Torpedo Torpedo

FUNCTION: Upon detection of an inbound torpedo, TORK is launched to intercept: it uses active sonar to track the threat, maneuvers via its onboard guidance system, and detonates near the hostile torpedo to destroy or disable it.

NOTE:
IOC: Prototype trials completed in 2018
Manufacturer: Turkey (ASELSAN, supported by TÜBİTAK)
Operators: Turkey (in testing/development phase)
Platforms: Surface warships and submarines

SOURCE:
ASELSAN TORK brochure: https://www.aselsan.com/en/defence/product/1942/tork ; Turkish Defence Agency: https://tdefenceagency.com/tork-torpidoya-karsi-savunma-torpidosu/ ; Army Recognition: https://www.armyrecognition.com/archives-naval-defense/naval-defense-2015/aselsan-unveils-the-tork-hard-kill-torpedo-countermeasure-system-at-idef-2015 ; Anadolu Agency: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkish-defense-giant-succeeds-in-torpedo-marine-tests/1269848 ; Defense News: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/12/10/french-turkish-naval-companies-tinker-with-torpedo-interceptors/