Italy’s Black Shark Torpedo Emerges as Front-Runner for Indian Navy’s Kalvari-class Submarines with ‘Make in India’ Production Plan

The Indian Navy has taken a major step to boost its underwater strike capabilities by moving forward with a key deal to acquire heavyweight torpedoes (HWTs) for its frontline Kalvari-class submarines. Among the global contenders, Italy’s Black Shark torpedo, offered by Leonardo’s subsidiary Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS), has emerged as a leading candidate, mainly due to its cost advantage and promise of domestic production in India.

The tender initially calls for 48 torpedoes, but the long-term vision involves manufacturing over 200 units within India, aligning closely with the government’s ‘Make in India’ defence policy. This move is crucial, as the Kalvari-class subs—built under Project 75 with French assistance—currently lack their primary anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons, leaving them reliant on outdated torpedoes.

This is the third time the Navy has tried to equip its advanced submarines with modern HWTs after earlier efforts failed. An earlier deal for the Black Shark, signed in 2008, was scrapped following corruption allegations linked to Leonardo's then-parent company Finmeccanica during the VVIP helicopter scandal. Later, France’s F21 torpedo, though technically sound, also didn’t result in a final agreement.

Now, with the ban on Leonardo lifted, the Black Shark is back in the running. This time, the Navy is likely to avoid time-consuming new field trials, instead relying on past performance data to speed up the selection.

The Black Shark Advanced (BSA) is a powerful 533mm torpedo equipped with a lithium-polymer battery, giving it a speed of 50 knots and a range of up to 50 km. It features a cutting-edge ASTRA guidance system that ensures precision strikes even in challenging underwater conditions. An added advantage is its rechargeable battery, enabling up to 100 training launches—a cost-saving benefit for the Navy.

France’s F21 torpedo, made by Naval Group, is its closest competitor. It is already in service with the French and Brazilian navies and has been successfully tested by India. It is well-suited for complex coastal environments and offers a strong technical proposition. However, its higher cost may weigh against it in the final decision.

A third competitor, Germany’s SeaHake Mod 4 from Atlas Elektronik, is also in the mix but is viewed as a less prominent contender.

Although Naval Group has the advantage of being deeply integrated into the Kalvari-class program—with existing industrial support in India—the Italian bid is reportedly more affordable and better aligned with India’s strategic industrial goals. WASS is already exploring partnerships with Indian firms like Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to set up local production facilities.

The Navy plans to import the initial batch of torpedoes to meet urgent needs and later shift production to India, cutting down long-term costs and ensuring supply chain security.

India does have its own indigenous Varunastra heavyweight torpedo, developed by DRDO, which is in service. However, it is not yet compatible with the Kalvari-class submarines, making foreign procurement essential for now.

The potential deal with Leonardo could do more than just arm the Navy’s submarines. It could strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, create export opportunities, and push the country closer to its goal of strategic autonomy. With the promise of advanced technology, cost efficiency, and domestic production, Italy’s Black Shark torpedo appears to be leading the race to fill one of the Indian Navy’s most pressing capability gaps.