VA - 111 Shkval The VA - 111 " Shkval " ( from Russian : шквал — " squall " ) torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes developed by the Soviet Union . They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots ( 370 km / h ) . Design and capabilities . Design began in the 1960s when the NII - 24 research institute was ordered to produce a new weapon system capable of combating nuclear submarine s . In 1969 , the GSKB - 47 merged with NII - 24 to create the Research Institute of Applied Hydromechanics in Kiev , Ukraine ( constructor Merkulov ) ; the Shkval being a product of this merger . Announced as being deployed in the early 1990s , although previously operational as early as 1977 , the " Shkval " is designed as a countermeasure against torpedoes launched by undetected enemy submarines . It may also be used as a counter to incoming torpedoes whereby it is launched at the enemy submarine , forcing it to evade , and hopefully cutting the guidance wire to the enemy torpedo in the process . The speed of the VA - 111 far exceeds that of any standard torpedo currently fielded by NATO . This speed is a result of supercavitation : the torpedo is , in effect , flying in a gas bubble created by outward deflection of water by its specially shaped nose cone and the expansion of gases from its engine . By keeping water from coming into contact with the surface of the body of the torpedo , drag is significantly reduced , allowing extremely high speeds . Launched from 533 mm torpedo tube s , the VA - 111 exits the tube at . Shortly afterwards , its liquid - fuel rocket ignites and propels it to speeds of up to . Some reports indicate that speeds of 250 + knots may be achieved , and that work on a version was underway . The rocket engine uses a combination of high test peroxide and kerosene ; the propellant tanks contain about 1500 kg of hydrogen peroxide and 500 kg of kerosene . Early designs may have relied solely on an inertial guidance system . The initial design was intended for nuclear warhead delivery . Later designs reportedly include terminal guidance and conventional warhead s of . The missile controls its direction using four fins that skim the inner surface of the supercavitation envelope . To change direction , the fin or fins on the inside of the desired turn are extended , and the opposing fins are retracted . To make faster turns , the push plate on the nose can be used to control the shape of the bubble the missile is traveling in . Manufacture . The torpedo is manufactured in Kyrgyzstan by a state - owned factory . In 2012 the Russian government purchased a 75 % ownership of the factory in exchange for writing off massive Kyrgyz debt to Russia . Specifications . There are at least three variants : All current versions are believed to be fitted only with conventional explosive warheads , although the original design used a nuclear warhead . Espionage . In 2000 , former U . S . Naval intelligence officer and an alleged 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 , allegedly on humanitarian grounds because he had bone cancer .