Iran seems to have test fired an improved version of its "Hoot supercavitating torpedo" and indications are the new test of this torpedo -- which is a reverse engineered copy of Russia's obsolete A-111 Shkval ("Squall") -- failed.

Iranian state-controlled media issued no press releases praising the successful launch of Hoot. Instead, Iranian media only said Hoot (the Farsi word for "whale") has a range of 11 kilometers and an underwater speed of 370 km/h (200 knots).

Like Us on Facebook

Iran and Russia are the only two countries in the world developing supercavitating torpedoes. Despite their fantastic and unmatched speeds, supercavitating torpedoes are considered a liability by other navies.

This because supercavitating torpedoes are too noisy  (meaning their targets can immediately detect their launch), and also because the technology that makes these torpedoes so fast also means this weapon can't be equipped with a guidance system.

In essence, Hoot and Shkval are massive bullets that can only travel in a straight line like most torpedoes used in World War II.

Iran revealed the existence of the Hoot in 2006 when it released a grainy video of Hoot being fired from a floating platform. The torpedo was first displayed in public during an exhibition held in October 2015 by the Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, or the Revolutionary Guards' Navy (NEDSA).

Russia last March announced plans to produce a new "supercavitating torpedo" despite five decades of history proving the technology behind this torpedo doesn't work as advertised.

Russia's attraction to a torpedo technology even the U.S. Navy has avoided developing is based mostly on bragging rights. It's only supercavitating torpedo, Shkval, can allegedly reach underwater speeds in excess of 370 km/h, making it by far the fastest torpedo in the world.

In comparison, the Mark 48 Advanced Capability heavyweight torpedo of the U.S. Navy, has a top speed of only 55 knots (102 km/h). The Mark 48 is the fastest U.S. Navy torpedo currently in operational use.

The secret to the Shkval's amazing speed is its design. It's basically a rocket powered underwater missile powered by a rocket motor.

Exhaust gases emitted by this rocket engine are vented to the nose of the missile instead of to the rear as is traditional in air breathing rockets.

These extremely hot exhaust gases vaporize water in front of the torpedo and create a mass of high pressure air bubbles around the torpedo. The result is the Shkval "flies" through an underwater pocket of air unimpeded by friction and water resistance.

Missile-like speed, however, is the Shkval's only redeeming feature. Most everything else about this torpedo disqualifies it for widespread use in submarines and surface warships.