SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy is steadily enhancing its underwater warfare capabilities with the induction of additional quantities of the Varunastra torpedo, an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-submarine heavyweight torpedo (HWT). On March 20, 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of Varunastra torpedoes in their combat variant, marking a significant step toward strengthening the Navy’s arsenal.
Developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the Varunastra torpedo represents a pinnacle of India’s indigenous defense technology. Named after the mythological weapon of Varuna, the Hindu god of the oceans, Varunastra is a ship-launched, electrically propelled heavyweight torpedo designed to target quiet and stealthy submarines in both deep and shallow waters, even under intense countermeasure environments.
Weighing approximately 1,500 kg with a 250 kg high-explosive warhead, the torpedo boasts a strike range of 40 kilometers and a top speed exceeding 40 knots (74 km/h). Its advanced features include an active-passive acoustic homing system, low-drift inertial navigation, and a GPS/NavIC-based locating aid—a unique capability among contemporary torpedoes worldwide. With over 95% indigenous content, Varunastra exemplifies India’s push toward the “Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured” (IDDM) category, reducing reliance on foreign systems.
First inducted into the Indian Navy in 2016, Varunastra has undergone extensive trials, including over 130 technical evaluations and 14 user trials between 2015 and 2016, followed by combat test-firings in 2023. Its successful engagement of underwater targets, such as the June 2023 trial from a Kamorta-class corvette and a submarine, has cemented its reputation as a reliable and lethal asset.
The Indian Navy’s inventory of Varunastra torpedoes has been steadily growing, reflecting its intent to replace aging foreign torpedoes and standardize its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. In June 2019, the Ministry of Defence awarded BDL a ?1,187 crore (approximately $170 million) contract to supply 73 Varunastra torpedoes, with deliveries commencing in November 2020. A subsequent order for 63 units, placed in 2018, was completed by May 2024, according to industry reports. The latest AoN approved by the DAC in March 2025 signals a fresh order, though specific quantities and costs remain undisclosed as of now.
Beyond its strategic value, Varunastra strengthens India’s defense industrial base. BDL, as the production agency, has completed deliveries of earlier orders and is now eyeing export opportunities. Countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, and others in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East have shown interest in this cost-competitive torpedo, which offers performance comparable to foreign alternatives like the U.S. Mark 48 or Germany’s SeaHake mod4 at a lower price point. The government’s 2016 announcement of intent to export Varunastra to friendly nations further amplifies its potential as a revenue generator.
The torpedo’s production also creates jobs and fosters collaboration with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. Its success has spurred NSTL to pursue next-generation variants, including a submarine-launched version with a reduced length (under 6.3 meters) and an enhanced range exceeding 50 kilometers, expected to enter trials within the next 3-5 years.
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