Iran's new fastest torpedo

The Persian gulf is only about several dozen km wide so this weapon can be somewhat deadly. However, Iran's best bet would be their Kilo submarines and whatever missiles are armed with the sub (several sources have claimed it is the Club, but I am not sure whether to beleive them or not).

Apparently the Gulf is to shallow for subarines to operate effectively. Sonar waves bounce of the seabed quckly, revealing a sub easily. If thats true, then those Kilos might be quite vulnerable. The best way to deploy this missile would be from the land. But I doubt that U.S. warships would venture within 7km of the Iranian coast. Iran may have to build a longer range variant of this thing.

DPRKPTboat said:

Apparently the Gulf is to shallow for subarines to operate effectively. Sonar waves bounce of the seabed quckly, revealing a sub easily. If thats true, then those Kilos might be quite vulnerable. The best way to deploy this missile would be from the land. But I doubt that U.S. warships would venture within 7km of the Iranian coast. Iran may have to build a longer range variant of this thing.

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It's the other way around. Too much sonar waves bouncing off seabeds and shorelines cause too much false echoes. There was a naval exercise between Australian Navy and U.S. Navy off the Hawaiian islands pitting Aussie D-E sub against the USN surface ships. The Aussie sub hug relatively close to shore to "hide" its acoustic signature. The Aussie sub had no trouble of getting close to and "sinking" USN ships. The Aussie sub can actually see USN aircraft carrier with its periscope without being detected. This is considered very close range in modern sub warfare.:coffee:

coolieno99 said:

It's the other way around. Too much sonar waves bouncing off seabeds and shorelines cause too much false echoes. There was a naval exercise between Australian Navy and U.S. Navy off the Hawaiian islands pitting Aussie D-E sub against the USN surface ships. The Aussie sub hug relatively close to shore to "hide" its acoustic signature. The Aussie sub had no trouble of getting close to and "sinking" USN ships. The Aussie sub can actually see USN aircraft carrier with its periscope without being detected. This is considered very close range in modern sub warfare.:coffee:

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I betcha a gazillion bucks that little Aussie could not hide from a LA class or soon any surface or P-3 any more..The US is installing some new super sensors on all it's subs. From what I understand similar equipment will becomming on line for surface ships.,,The USN has had success the Swesish HMS Gotland.



Lockheed Upgrades US Submarine Acoustics Under A-RCI Program (updated)
Posted 01-Mar-2006 05:25
Related stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Modifications, Electronics - General, IT - Software & Integration, Lockheed Martin, Project Successes, Sensors - Aquatic, Submarines, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other
Also on this day: 01-Mar-2006 »
A-RCI is a sonar system upgrade installed on the USA's entire submarine fleet, including SSN-688 Los Angeles & SSN-688I Improved Los Angeles Class, SSN-21 Seawolf Class, SSN-744 Virginia Class, SSBN-726 Ohio Class nuclear missile boats, and the pending SSGN Tactical Trident special ops and strike subs.

By sharply upgrading ship sensor processing, it integrates and improves the boat's towed array, hull array and sphere array sonars, running more advanced algorithms and providing a fuller "picture" of the surrounding environment. Sometimes, it really is all about what you can do with it.

DID adds a bit more explanation of exactly what A-RCI entails and where its benefits were focused; then we'll go on to cover contracts placed under the A-RCI program in 2006.

A-RCI: Specifics & Benefits

(click to view full: Large!)The Acoustic - Rapid Commercial off-the-shelf Insertion (A-RCI) AN/BQQ-10(V) Sonar System was actually initiated as Engineering Change 1000 to the AN/BSY-1 Combat System on SSN-688I improved Los Angeles Class submarines. The concept doesn't replace the existing AN/BSY-1, AN/BQQ-5, and AN/BQQ-6 sensors - instead, it replaces central processors with modernized COTS personal computer technology and software installed in an open architecture. A-RCI efforts include interfaces to the legacy systems; signal processing enhancements; display enhancements; and incorporation of Government Furnished Information (GFI) algorithms.

According to GlobalSecurity.org, these improvements provide expanded capabilities, particularly in littoral waters, for covert intelligence collection and surveillance, and covert insertion and support of Special Forces. This is especially apropos for both the SSGN Tactical Trident special operations subs and the Virginia class, which also has special forces insertion capabilities. Expanded capabilities for anti-submarine warfare were focused on diesel-electric submarines, covert mining, and covert strike of targets ashore. Again, covery strile of targets ashore is also a prominent part of the SSGN and Virginia Class' missions.

Submarines with improved sensors, of course, like the new SSN-21 Seawolf and SSN-744 Virginia Class boats, will realize even greater benefits from having more computing power available in a more easily-upgradeable architecture.

SSN Seawolf ClassMoore's Law matters - according to the US Navy, a single A-RCI Multi-Purpose Processor (MPP) has as much computing power as the entire legacy Los Angeles Class (SSN-688/688I) submarine fleet combined, and allows the development and use of complex algorithms previously beyond the reach of legacy processors. Specific software improvements included passive ranging, spatial vernier processing, full spectrum processing, dual towed array concurrent processing, low frequency active interference rejection, passive broadband, passive narrowband and passive detection and tracking processing, track management, on-board training, and port/starboard ambiguity resolution.

A-RCI's open architecture confers other advantages as well, notably the capacity for faster, more economical, and more frequent hardware and/or software upgrades. The program expanded to provide improvements that could be back-fit into all nuclear attack (SSN) and ballistic missile (SSBN) submarines, totaling over 60 ship sets. The system is now known formally as the AN/BQQ-10 (V) Sonar, and has gone through four phases.

BD Popeye, the Iranians do have Russian made Kilos and Kilos are known for being silent. If Iran really wanted to, they can probably sacrifice one of their subs in return for sinking a US carrier. The morale boost of the Iranians would simply be tremendous. Would 4 SET-65KE torpedoes be enough to sink a US carrier? Or even better and more thought provoking: would 4 of Iran's superfast torpedoes be able to sink a US carrier? Maybe, maybe not, but the Iranians are known for doing suicidal tactics in order to make tactical and strategic gains.

well a sub for a carrier is a good exchange and i think any country would be willling to do that. also didn't they say that the torpedo could be armed with a nuclear warhead of some sort. so if they equip the torpedo with a nuke they would not only take out the carrier but also take out the whole group. maybe thats another reason why iran wants nuke tech so bad.

of course by using a nuke on a US carrier group Iran would be attacked by a counter nuke strike--so it would make little sense on Iran's part to do such a thing. (not trying to start another nuke discussion here, just making this one point).

walter said:

of course by using a nuke on a US carrier group Iran would be attacked by a counter nuke strike--so it would make little sense on Iran's part to do such a thing. (not trying to start another nuke discussion here, just making this one point).

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Thank you Walter. Iran would become a glass parking lot if it attacked the US forces with nukes.

Huhhh Let's get off the nukes ..Shall we?

Crazy wants to know...

Would 4 SET-65KE torpedoes be enough to sink a US carrier? Or even better and more thought provoking: would 4 of Iran's superfast torpedoes be able to sink a US carrier? Maybe, maybe not, but the Iranians are known for doing suicidal tactics in order to make tactical and strategic gains

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To answer the second part first. I would not be at all surprised if the Iranians launched a suicide attack on US forces.....

Crazy..are you on spring break? Glad to see you here!

Anyway IF four of those SET-65 KE's hit a CVN. that's almost 2500lbs of warheads!.. That may not be enough to sink a carrier but more than likely "mission kill" it. As for their "new" alledged rocket torpedo...That's about 1850lbs of warhead. Similar amount of damage probally resulting in a mission kill IF four hit at once.

First off for this to happen the vessels carrying these weapons must get through the USN surface,subsurface and airborne defense. So how many and what type vessels would Iran send against a USN CVN? Let's say four patrol boats and three of the four get through..fire their weapons and severley damage a CVN. I think that's fair...well the vessels that get throught will be attacked and sunk. Every military base, site, weapon, aircraft ,ship, sub..what ever Iran has in it's arsenal would be attacked. Is that worth the "glory"(sic) of sinking a USN CVN? For Iran probally yes. I hope and pray that it never happens!

bd popeye said:

Thank you Walter. Iran would become a glass parking lot if it attacked the US forces with nukes.

Huhhh Let's get off the nukes ..Shall we?

Crazy wants to know...


To answer the second part first. I would not be at all surprised if the Iranians launched a suicide attack on US forces.....

Crazy..are you on spring break? Glad to see you here!

Anyway IF four of those SET-65 KE's hit a CVN. that's almost 2500lbs of warheads!.. That may not be enough to sink a carrier but more than likely "mission kill" it. As for their "new" alledged rocket torpedo...That's about 1850lbs of warhead. Similar amount of damage probally resulting in a mission kill IF four hit at once.

First off for this to happen the vessels carrying these weapons must get through the USN surface,subsurface and airborne defense. So how many and what type vessels would Iran send against a USN CVN? Let's say four patrol boats and three of the four get through..fire their weapons and severley damage a CVN. I think that's fair...well the vessels that get throught will be attacked and sunk. Every military base, site, weapon, aircraft ,ship, sub..what ever Iran has in it's arsenal would be attacked. Is that worth the "glory"(sic) of sinking a USN CVN? For Iran probally yes. I hope and pray that it never happens!

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the KE from the new torperdo may causes additional damage if these torperdo explode under the keel of the ship ( unlikely but possible ) the the keel will break resulting in the loss of the carrier

Darth Sidious has a point. We have never even seen the effect of a Shkval torpedo against a ship so the possibilites can be endless.