Amid escalating tensions with the United States, Iran is reportedly preparing to deploy its most powerful underwater weapon, the Hoot torpedo, which has once again come under global scrutiny for its exceptional speed and stealth capabilities. The development has sparked fresh concern among defence analysts over potential maritime confrontations in sensitive regions.
Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani recently stated that the country would soon use a new weapon against its adversaries, leading experts to speculate that he was referring to the Hoot supercavitating torpedo. The weapon, first secretly tested in 2006, is regarded as one of the fastest underwater offensive systems developed by Iran.
The Hoot, named after the Persian word for “whale,” is believed to operate using supercavitation technology, which creates a gas bubble around the torpedo to drastically reduce water resistance. This allows it to travel at speeds exceeding 360 km/h, significantly faster than conventional torpedoes that typically move between 60–100 km/h.
The weapon is reportedly capable of carrying over 200 kg of explosive payload and is designed to autonomously track and strike targets once launched. However, defence experts point out its limitations, including a relatively short operational range of around 15 km and reduced accuracy due to sonar interference caused by the gas bubble effect.
Analysts caution that while the Hoot torpedo could be particularly dangerous in confined maritime zones such as the Strait of Hormuz, targeting heavily protected US naval carrier strike groups, including vessels like the USS Abraham Lincoln, would be extremely challenging due to advanced surveillance and multi-layered defence systems, making any such operation highly risky.