Supercavitating torpedo

A supercavitating torpedo is a torpedo using the effect of supercavitation to create a bubble around the torpedo to move at high velocity under water. Super cavitation has many variables, though. If the air stream is unstable, the torpedo could lose balance. The idea is to reduce drag on the torpedo while it sails underwater. This would make the speed greater and therefore the force of impact greater. The following is a list of supercavitating torpedoes which have been developed or are in development.

• VA-111 Shkval, 1977
• Hoot, believed to be reverse-engineered from the VA-111 Shkval,^[1] 2006
• Superkavitierender Unterwasserlaufkörper (Supercavitating underwater-travelling munition) Barracuda, 2005 prototype
• Unnamed prototype, mentioned 2004^[2]
• Supercavitating underwater vehicle, being developed by the ADD, undergoing trials since 2025^[3]

DARPA also considered building supercavitating minisubs dubbed "Underwater Express".^[4]