22:58 Dec 25, 2008 

Considering I used to design sonar things using these cables, my answer below was a bit poor. The cable designer strives to produce a cable which will not generate a torque (which will twist the thing being towed) when it is stretched, not as easy as you might think with so many strands and layers. All the cables I came across were either greased steel or had a solid, not braided, outer jacket. Since aramid is at least an order of magnitude less stiff (Youngs modulus) than steel, it is slightly surprising that it is being used as an anti-torque jacket or covering, unless the cable itself is a polymer and/or quite thin.