The 12 most dangerous weapons in Russia’s armoury (With Pictures)

8. Shkval Rocket-Torpedo

Russia leads the way in rocket technology, and they have applied their knowledge not only to traditional missiles, but torpedoes as well. The idea is simple: create a bubble of air around the torpedo as it travels through the water, and then use a rocket engine to propel the torpedo at high speeds.

Such is the design of the Shkval Rocket Torpedo. Newer versions of the Shkval have been reported to travel at speeds of up to 300 knots. That’s 6 times faster than normal torpedoes. This greatly increases accuracy, as enemy ships no longer have time to try to maneuver out of its path.

The rocket torpedo works so well due to an effect called “supercavitation.” When a bubble of air is created around the torpedo, the water no longer applies any friction to the side of the torpedo, thereby reducing drag and increasing speed. The bubble of air is created using a nozzle at the nose of the torpedo, which emits gas and forms the bubble. The engine also emits gas, which can be used to create the bubble.