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VA-111 Shkval
VA-111 Shkval
	VA-111 Shkval
Type	Supercavitating torpedo
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1977–present
Used by	Russian Navy and Iranian Navy
Production history
Designer	NII-24 research institute
Designed	1960s–70s
Manufacturer	Tactical Missiles Corporation
Produced	1977–present
Variants	Shkval 2, Shkval-E
Specifications
Mass	2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Length	8,200 mm (26 ft 11 in)
Diameter	533 mm (21 in)
Effective firing range	Shkval: 7 km (4.3 mi); Shkval 2: From 11–15 km (6.8–9.3 mi)
Warhead	Conventional explosive or nuclear
Warhead weight	210 kg (460 lb)
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Propellant	Solid-fuel
Maximum speed	Launch speed: 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph); Maximum speed: in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h; 230 mph)
Guidance; system	GOLIS autonomous inertial guidance
Launch; platform	533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

The VA-111 Shkval (from Russian: шквал, squall) torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes originally developed by the Soviet Union. They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h or 230 miles/h).^[1]

Design and capabilities

Design began in the 1960s when the NII-24 research institute was ordered to produce a new weapon capable of engaging nuclear submarines. The merger of the institute and GSKB-47 created the Research Institute of Applied Hydromechanics, who continued with the design and production of the Shkval.^[2]

Previously operational as early as 1977, the torpedo was announced as being deployed in the 1990s.^[2] The Shkval is intended as a countermeasure against torpedoes launched by undetected enemy submarines.^[2]

The VA-111 is launched from 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes at 50 kn (93 km/h; 58 mph).^[3] A solid-fuel rocket accelerates it to cavitation speed, with a combined-cycle gas turbine in the nose creating the required gas bubble.^[4] Once accelerated, speed is maintained by an underwater ramjet fueled by hydroreactive metals using seawater as both reactant and the source of oxidizer; the torpedo travels at around 200 kn (370 km/h; 230 mph).^[5]^[6]

Some reports indicate that the VA-111 possibly exceeds speeds of 250 kn (460 km/h; 290 mph), and that work on a 300 kn (560 km/h; 350 mph) version was underway.^[7]^[8]

The high speed is made possible by supercavitation, whereby a gas bubble surrounding the torpedo is created by outward deflection of water by its specially-shaped nose cone and the expansion of gases from its engine and the gas generator in the nose. This minimizes water contact with the torpedo, significantly reducing drag.^[2]

Early designs may have relied solely on an inertial guidance system.^[9]^[10] The initial design was intended for nuclear warhead delivery. Later designs reportedly include terminal guidance and conventional warheads.^[7]

The torpedo steers using four fins that skim the inner surface of the supercavitation gas bubble. To change direction, the fin(s) on the inside of the desired turn are extended, and the opposing fins are retracted.^[2]

In 2016, KTRV was upgrading Shkval.^[11]

Manufacture

The torpedo is manufactured in Kyrgyzstan by the "Dastan" state-owned factory. In 2012 the Russian government asked for a 75% ownership of the factory in exchange for writing off $180 million Kyrgyz debt to Russia.^[12]

Espionage

In 2000, former U.S. Naval intelligence officer and an alleged Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) spy Edmond Pope (Captain, USN, retired) was held, tried, and convicted in Russia of espionage related to information he obtained about the Shkval weapon system. Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned Pope in December 2000 on humanitarian grounds because he had bone cancer.^[13]^[14]

Operators

Iran
- Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Russia (possibly)
- Russian Navy (possibly)
Vietnam (possibly)
- Vietnam People's Navy (possibly equipped with Kilo-class submarines, it is suspected that Vietnam owns this type of torpedo in its inventory due to a picture showing a part of VA-111 and Vietnamese labels)^[15]^[16]

Variants

There are at least three variants:

VA-111 Shkval – Original variant; GOLIS autonomous inertial guidance.
"Shkval 2" – Current variant; believed to have additional guidance systems, possibly via the use of vectored thrust, and with a much longer range.
A less capable version currently being exported to foreign naval forces. The export version is referred to as "Shkval-E".
Iran claimed it has created a version named Hoot.

All current versions are believed to be fitted only with conventional explosive warheads, although the original design used a nuclear warhead.

Specifications

Length: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
Diameter: 532 mm (21 in)
Weight: 2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
Warhead weight: 210 kg (460 lb)
Speed
- Launch speed: 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph)
- Maximum speed: 200 knots (370 km/h; 230 mph) or greater
Range: Around 11–15 km (6.8–9.3 mi) (new version). Older versions only 7 km (4.3 mi)^[17]

References

^ "VA-111 Shkval Torpedo". Military Periscope. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Iranian Navy Test-Fires New Home-Made Torpedo". Fars News Agency. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
^ "Designed to knock down US super carriers watch the Russian sea monster that remains the biggest threat to US Navy". Eurasian Times. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
^ Garanin 2009, p. 216.
^ "The allure of supercavitating torpedoes". Naval Technology. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ "Russia developing Khishchnik high-speed torpedo to replace VA-111 Shkval supercavitating torpedo". Navy Recognition. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ ^a ^b Polmar 2004, p. 304.
^ Baker 2000, p. 581.
^ "КТРВ на МАКСе-2009 представит новую продукцию". AviaPort.Ru (in Russian). 27 July 2009. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ Shakhidzhanov, Ye. S. "Подводные ракеты". Flot.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ "Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation Upgrading VA-111 Shkval Supercavitating Torpedo". Navy Recognition. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ "Russian-Kyrgyz relations are deteriorating rapidly". TASS. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2023-07-30. The new apple of discord became the Dastan torpedo producing plant, which Moscow is seeking to control. The newspaper noted that Russia […] demands 75% of assets instead of 48% in a swap for writing off 180 million dollars of debt.
^ Tavernise, Sabrina (15 December 2000). "American Jailed as Spy in Moscow Is Freed on Putin's Orders; U.S. Welcomes Gesture". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ Murphy, Dean E. (15 January 2001). "Moscow 'Spy' Case Is Still a Mystery". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ VnExpress. "Sức mạnh 6 tàu ngầm Kilo của Việt Nam - VnExpress". Tin nhanh VnExpress (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2021-11-05.
^ Acomm(http://www.acomm.com.vn), Copyright(c) 2019. "Khai mạc Triển lãm quốc tế và Hội nghị khoa học lần thứ 5 về điều kiển và tự động hóa | Tạp chí Tuyên giáo". tuyengiao.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2021-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Post-World War II Torpedoes of Russia/USSR". NavWeaps. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

Sources

Polmar, Norman (2004). Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines. Dulles: Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-57488-594-1.
Garanin, I. V. (2009). "The Hydro-Reacting Marine Solid Fuel Rocket Engines". In Favorsky, Oleg N. (ed.). Thermal to Mechanical Energy Conversion :Engines and Requirements. Vol. II. Oxford, United Kingdom: EOLSS Publications. pp. 201–238. ISBN 978-1-84826-022-1.
Baker, A. D. III, ed. (2000). Combat Fleets of the World 2000–2001: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.