Q&A · 1:02:00-1:02:09

How modern air-dropped torpedoes enter the water

Modern air-dropped torpedoes use parachutes and internal stabilization rather than the tension wires used by early torpedo bombers.

Question

Do modern torpedoes still need a tension-wire system when dropped from aircraft?

Short answer

They usually use parachutes, with gyroscopes and self-righting systems helping stabilize the weapon after release at higher aircraft speeds.

Notes

Modern air-dropped torpedoes usually use parachutes to manage descent from faster aircraft. Gyroscopes and self-righting systems help the weapon settle into its intended attitude. These arrangements replace the tension-wire method used by earlier torpedo bombers.