Overview/Swift Subsea Weapons

The world's major navies are developing arsenals of innovative high-speed undersea weapons and vessels based on the phenomenon of supercavitation, which allows them to reduce drag by travelling inside self-generated bubbles of water vapor and gas.

The Russian navy has already deployed a rocket-powered supercavitation torpedo the Shkval (Squall) that is said to achieve speeds of 50-230 miles per hour.

The extensive list of potential supercavitating weapons includes short-range underwater projectiles to destroy mines and incoming torpedoes, high-velocity torpedoes, large subsea missiles for destroying entire battle groups, small ultrahigh-speed surface ships, and perhaps even supercavitating submarines. A long-range, multistage strategic torpedo/missile tipped with nuclear warheads that could possibly defeat "Star Wars" defences has also been envisioned.