The Shkval is a sub-killer, particularly if it's fitted with a tactical nuclear warhead. Some in the West consider this torpedo a "revenge weapon"
because any Russian ship that launched a nuclear-tipped Shkval against a target only a few miles away would also succumb to the shock wave.
The Russian's claimed that the sinking of the sub "Kursk" had been caused by a collision with one of the foreign subs in the vicinity, this
assertion was dismissed in the West. The scuttlebutt in Pentagon circles was that the sinking was precipitated by an explosion during a test of an
improved version of the Shkval torpedo.
The Russians are selling the Shkval to anyone with the money to buy them. I would guess NATO has already purchased enough to backward engineer it!
Besides, If it were that good of a weapon, Why would Russians sell it instead of keeping it secret?
All-in-All Still no match for the US NAVY!
So let them keep testing this great weapon, and soon there want be any Russian Subs Left
[Edited on 12-7-03 by Walt]