Quantum Torpedo

The revolutionary experimental quantum torpedo was developed by Frontier Aerospace as a successor to the standard Starfleet photon torpedo. Although both warheads have a virtually identical explosive yield, the quantum warhead exploits quantum tunneling to increase its destructive yield.

Design
Quantum torpedoes share an almost identical casing to photon torpedoes, but their interiors are somewhat dissimilar.

Instead of containing a photon torpedo's solid-state antimatter warhead, quantum torpedoes use a plasma-based matter/antimatter warhead. The simple act of ionizing the warhead increased its penetrative and explosive range.

Quantum torpedoes exploit quantum tunneling to make them one of the most devastating weapons in Starfleet's arsenal. Although the specifics have not been released due to patent law, quantum tunneling is used as a propellant for the warhead's explosive yield, allowing it to surpass thick hull plating and some shielding.

Development
Many Frontier Aerospace executives believed that the ship that would be produced by the Warp 10 Prototype Program would be superior to any existing Starfleet vessels. Certain military-minded executives desired a similarly superior weapon to be introduced alongside the Warp 10 vessel. The Advanced Photon Warhead Program (APOW) was subsequently established in 2232, unbeknownst (as with the Warp 10 program) to Starfleet.

The first seven years of the program were spent performing basic research. Most experimenters were focused on introducing a new type of warhead entirely; a few, though, attempted to develop an improvement upon the existing photon torpedo warhead.

This group attained the most success. In 2239, they presented their proposal for a plasma-based photon warhead the exploited quantum tunneling to surpass the limitations of existing photon torpedoes. Their design would allow for abnormally-thick hulls and some shielding to be rendered ineffective. Frontier Aerospace executives accepted the proposal with enthusiasm.

The next eighteen years were spent transitioning the proposal into a functional weapon. Frontier Aerospace engineers succeeded in doing so in June of 2256, mere months before the USS Endeavour was commissioned. Over the next year, Frontier Aerospace revealed their new weapon to Starfleet and sought their approval.

Implementation
With the re-emergence of Khan Noonien Singh as a threat, Starfleet was increasingly willing to accept quantum torpedoes into their arsenal. This decision was made in spite of their experimental nature.

The initial wave of quantum torpedoes, manufactured by Frontier Aerospace, were placed only on the USS Ethos and the USS Endeavour. When supplies began running low, Starfleet offered their assistance, and began supplementing the production process, although not involving themselves directly.

Quantum torpedoes played a critical role in a number of military encounters, including the Romulan Encounter at 92 Exa Polaris and the Battle of Kabrymus.