Apart from the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo, there are actually other types of torpedoes produced by Russia that are still viewed as mysterious by the United States and Western countries. Despite the status of a tactical torpedo in standard 533 mm caliber, the name VA-111 Shkval inevitably makes the US and NATO fleets restless, because this type of underwater weapon has a very threatening comparative advantage, while US and Western intelligence access is still limited to torpedo capabilities. that can fly like a rocket.
The speed of the Shkval is undeniably a scourge for the West, the maximum speed of the Shkval which reaches 200 knots (370 km per hour), or equivalent to the speed of bullet trains in Japan, clearly makes the US and NATO fleets terrified, while the supply of intelligence information is still limited to torpedoes. designed by the NII-24 research institute and produced by the Tactical Missiles Corporation, Russia.
The Shkval torpedo can reach very high speeds because it uses supercavitation technology. Supercavitation is a phenomenon in which large air bubbles form around a torpedo, reducing the hydrodynamic drag that the torpedo faces as it moves underwater.
The supercavitation process begins by producing air bubbles around the nose of the torpedo. When the Shkval torpedo travels at high speed, the liquid around the nose is forced to the side and creates a vacuum zone in front of it.
The air bubbles formed cause the front of the torpedo to separate from the water, creating a void or cavity. This cavity is the so-called "supercavity," which allows the torpedo to "glide" through the water without experiencing the large friction experienced by conventional torpedoes.
In doing so, the supercavitation on the Shkval reduces drag and allows the Shkval torpedo to travel at speeds far exceeding those of other torpedoes. This high speed allows the torpedo to reach its target very quickly, reducing the time it takes to reach the target and leaving the target little time to react or evade.
Supercavitation also provides the additional benefit of evading sonar-based anti-torpedo defense systems. Because the Shkval torpedo moves through the water, the acoustic waves generated by the torpedo are much smaller than that of a conventional torpedo moving through the water, making it difficult to detect by surface ships' sonar sensors.
The Shkval torpedo uses propulsion supplied by a solid-fuel rocket engine. In a solid fuel rocket engine, the fuel and oxidizer have been mixed and compressed into a solid state. When the rocket engines are engaged, the solid fuel is exothermically burned to produce gases which produce thrust and are ejected through nozzles aft of the torpedo. This thrust provides a strong propulsion force to advance the torpedo at high speed.
The use of solid fuel rocket engines allowed the Shkval torpedoes to reach very high supercavitating speeds, as the thrust generated from the solid rocket engines was greater than that of liquid rocket engines of a similar size. Thus, the Shkval torpedo is capable of reaching enormous speeds in a very short time.
The supercavitating design is key to the Shkval torpedo's extraordinary speed, which is up to 370 km per hour. Before reaching maximum speed, Shkval first shot at launch speed - 50 knots (93 km per hour). How did supercavitation form on Shkval? We will peel in the next article.
From the specifications, the Shkval torpedo with GOLIS autonomous inertial guidance has a length of 8.2 meters, a diameter of 533 mm, and a total weight of 2.7 tonnes. While the warhead weighs 210 kg, which can be filled with conventional or nuclear warheads.
Owned by Iran?
Imagine the havoc wreaked by a torpedo traveling at 370 km per hour. Outside of Russia, Iran is said to have operated this type of torpedo. According to Western analysts, Iran is considered to be able to use it against US surface ships in the Strait of Hormuz and other Middle East regions. Russia, on the other hand, may pose a threat to US interests in the Black Sea and many other global locations.
Despite their impressive speed, the Shkval torpedo also had several limitations, such as a relatively short operating range – an effective firing range of only 7,000 meters and a battery with a limited lifespan due to high power consumption while in supercavitation mode.
Therefore, the Shkval torpedo is more suitable for close attack missions and other special tasks rather than being used as a general torpedo attack solution. The Shkval could pose a real threat if the torpedo-launching submarine managed to remain undetected or destroyed before reaching the firing position.