Iran’s ‘Hoot’ Torpedo – an underwater bullet-speed weapon that can destroy enemy ships and submarines – is in the news these days. Amidst tensions with America and the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has hinted at this ‘dreaded weapon’, which has further intensified the speculations.

Iran’s warning and new weapon
Iran’s Navy Commander Shahram Irani said that his country will very soon attack the enemies with a ‘new weapon’. He indicated that this weapon is very close to the enemies and can give them a big blow.

What is ‘Hoot’ Torpedo?
India Today report said that according to defense expert Sandeep Unnithan, it could be a rocket torpedo named ‘Hoot’, which was secretly tested by Iran in around 2006. ‘Hoot’ means whale in Persian and is counted among the fastest underwater weapons in the world.

What is super-cavitation technology?
Ordinary torpedoes travel at a speed of 60-100 km/h underwater, but Iran claims that ‘Hoot’ can reach speeds of more than 360 km/h. This is possible through ‘super-cavitation’ technology, in which the torpedo creates a bubble of gas around itself. This reduces the friction of water and the weapon can move very fast – as if a high-speed runway has been created inside the water.

Features and Strengths
The biggest strength of ‘Hoot’ is its speed and ability to carry more than 200 kg of explosives. It is considered a ‘fire and forget’ weapon, that is, once released, it automatically moves towards the target.

Weaknesses are also not less
There is a price to be paid for such high speed. The range of ‘Hoot’ is only about 15 km, whereas normal torpedoes can go up to 30 km. Apart from this, due to such high speed and gas bubbles, it is difficult to take it to the right target because the sonar system gets disrupted.

Can it sink an American aircraft carrier?
Big American warships, like USS Abraham Lincoln, are extremely strong. These have many layers of protection, heavy armor and a complete security circle around them, which is called ‘Carrier Strike Group’. In such a situation, Iran will have to come very close to launch ‘Hoot’, which is considered almost impossible and a suicidal move in the open sea.

Where can it be used?
According to experts, ‘Hoot’ can most likely be used in narrow areas like the Strait of Hormuz, where the movement of large ships is limited. However, American ships already maintain distance from such areas to avoid any sudden attack.