India Signs ₹1,896 Crore Contract With Italy’s WASS For 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes for Kalvari-Class Submarines

New Delhi : India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday signed a ₹1,896 crore (approximately $210 million) contract with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy, for the procurement and integration of 48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWTs) for the Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class (Project-75 / P-75) submarines, a move aimed at significantly sharpening the underwater combat punch of the Navy’s frontline conventional submarine force.

The agreement was inked at South Block, New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, with the MoD stating that the acquisition will enhance the combat capability of the Navy’s six Kalvari-class submarines.

What the Contract Covers

According to the government release, the contract includes the procurement and full integration of 48 heavyweight torpedoes, along with associated equipment, for the Kalvari-class submarines—India’s Scorpène-derivative diesel-electric attack boats built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in partnership with France’s Naval Group.

The scope of the deal encompasses weapon integration with onboard combat systems, ensuring compatibility with the submarines’ fire-control, sensor and combat management architecture, thereby enabling full operational employment of the torpedoes.

The MoD has placed the agreement within its broader capital procurement momentum for FY 2025–26, stating that it has signed capital acquisition contracts worth ₹1,82,492 crore for Armed Forces modernisation so far in the current financial year.

Delivery Timeline: April 2028 to Early 2030

The MoD has outlined a clearly defined delivery schedule, with torpedo deliveries set to commence from April 2028 and conclude by early 2030. The induction will be carried out in a phased manner, aligned with submarine availability for installation, harbour trials, sea trials and final acceptance.

This timeline is intended to allow smooth integration, crew familiarisation and operational validation across the entire Kalvari-class fleet.

Why It Matters for Project-75

The Kalvari-class submarines—INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer—represent the Indian Navy’s most modern conventional submarine line currently in service. These boats are tasked with sea-denial operations, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), intelligence gathering and surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region.

Heavyweight torpedoes constitute a submarine’s primary close-in and beyond-visual-range kill weapon against both enemy surface combatants and submarines. The MoD’s decision therefore directly strengthens the Navy’s underwater lethality and deterrence, even as India continues to pursue long-term indigenous solutions and future upgrades for the class.

About WASS and the Likely Torpedo Family

WASS Submarine Systems is a specialised Italian firm focused on underwater weapons, torpedoes and countermeasure systems. The company is now controlled by Fincantieri, following the acquisition of the underwater armaments and systems business line from Leonardo and its consolidation into the WASS entity.

While the MoD has described the acquisition generically as Heavy Weight Torpedoes, the widely reported contender for the Kalvari-class requirement has been the Black Shark heavyweight torpedo family. Publicly available material describes BLACK SHARK as a 21-inch (533-mm) heavyweight torpedo, featuring wire-guidance and acoustic self-homing.

According to earlier media reports, the torpedo is assessed to offer a range of around 50 km, a top speed of about 50 knots, and a high-explosive warhead weighing roughly 350 kg, making it suitable for long-range, high-lethality submarine engagements.

A Long-Running Gap-Closure Effort

India’s effort to equip its Scorpène/Kalvari-class submarines with modern heavyweight torpedoes has been closely tracked for several years. During this period, the Indian Navy explored multiple pathways, including imports, interim arrangements, upgrades and indigenous integration, to maintain operational readiness.

The latest contract is positioned as a critical gap-closure and combat capability enhancement for the fully operational six-boat Kalvari-class, ensuring that the submarines mature into full-spectrum, mission-ready underwater combat platforms over the coming decade.