Italy’s Fincantieri Wins Indian Navy Contract for Black Shark Heavyweight Torpedoes.

Italy's Fincantieri announced on December 30, 2025, that its subsidiary, WASS Submarine Systems, had won a contract valued at more than 200 million euros to supply Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. The agreement deepens defense ties between Italy and India while reinforcing New Delhi’s push to modernize its undersea warfare capabilities.

Italian shipbuilding and defense group Fincantieri confirmed it has secured a landmark export contract through its underwater weapons subsidiary, WASS Submarine Systems, to deliver Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. Company officials described the deal, valued at more than 200 million euros, as the largest export order in WASS’s 150-year history, underscoring growing demand in the Indo-Pacific for advanced submarine and anti-submarine warfare technologies.
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The Black Shark Advanced is an Italian-made heavyweight torpedo developed by WASS, designed for long-range, high-speed engagements against submarines and surface ships. Equipped with fiber-optic guidance, advanced acoustic homing, and a low-noise electric propulsion system, it is among the most advanced and stealth-capable torpedoes in service today. (Picture source: Social Network)

The Black Shark Advanced torpedoes are set to arm the Indian Navy’s fleet of six Scorpène-class diesel-electric attack submarines, also known locally as the Kalvari class. Deliveries will take place between 2028 and 2030, with production centered at WASS’s Livorno facility, which has long been regarded as Italy’s strategic hub for undersea weapons development. According to defense officials familiar with the agreement, the contract not only covers the supply of the torpedoes themselves but also integrated launch network systems, maintenance kits, and a full package of spare parts, ensuring a turnkey capability for the Indian Navy’s submarine force.

What makes this contract especially significant is the re-entry of the Black Shark torpedo into the Indian defense sphere after years of political and legal complications. A previous deal involving the earlier Black Shark model, linked to a different manufacturer, was canceled in 2016 due to corruption allegations surrounding another defense program. This new agreement, however, reboots the relationship with a clean slate under Fincantieri’s full control and comes as the Indian Ministry of Defence prioritizes rapid capability enhancement in response to rising undersea threats in the Indian Ocean region.

The Black Shark Advanced is not just a refined version of its predecessor, but a new-generation heavyweight torpedo designed for deep strike and covert engagements. Featuring a high-performance electric propulsion system, the BSA is engineered for ultra-quiet operation and long-range targeting, with fiber-optic wire guidance and advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities. It boasts a fully digital architecture, modular warhead configuration, and real-time tactical reprogramming capacity, enabling dynamic engagement of both surface ships and submerged targets. WASS officials have emphasized the BSA's ability to operate in complex littoral and blue-water environments with minimal logistical burden, thanks to its lower lifecycle cost and maintenance footprint.

Technically, the Black Shark Advanced is a heavyweight torpedo with an overall length of approximately 6.3 meters and a diameter of 533 mm, designed to be compatible with NATO-standard launch tubes. It weighs around 1.5 tons and is equipped with an advanced multi-role warhead capable of both high-explosive anti-submarine and anti-ship effects. The torpedo uses a dual-purpose guidance system combining active/passive acoustic homing with wake-homing capabilities, ensuring effective tracking and engagement even in electronically contested environments. Its integrated fiber-optic wire link provides real-time command and control, enabling high-data-rate communication between the torpedo and the submarine fire control system.

The propulsion system, based on a high-density silver-zinc battery and brushless electric motor, allows for speeds in excess of 50 knots and an operational range beyond 50 kilometers, though official figures remain classified. The propulsion is designed to be cavitation-free at cruise speed, reducing acoustic signature and enhancing survivability in hostile waters. The BSA also integrates a proprietary counter-countermeasure suite, allowing it to defeat modern decoys and jamming techniques commonly deployed by advanced navies.

At least seven navies - including Italy, Brazil, Chile, and Malaysia - are already fielding the BSA or are in advanced procurement stages, positioning it as one of the most combat-proven and versatile torpedoes currently on the global market. The Indian contract, however, stands out both for its scale and its geopolitical implications, as it cements Italy’s place among the key underwater weapons suppliers to one of Asia’s largest and fastest-modernizing navies.

Behind the scenes, this deal also signals Fincantieri's broader strategic ambition to penetrate the Indian defense-industrial ecosystem. Sources close to the matter suggest that WASS will explore localized support partnerships and offset arrangements, potentially opening the door for co-production or licensed assembly in India under the country’s "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) initiative. In fact, several Indian defense officials have hinted at deeper cooperation with Italian industry in underwater warfare domains, including unmanned undersea systems and anti-submarine warfare training.

WASS's 150th anniversary, coinciding with the finalization of this deal, underscores the long trajectory of Italian innovation in undersea warfare, dating back to the development of Whitehead torpedoes in the 19th century. Today, the Livorno site continues that legacy with a fully modernized manufacturing line, high-speed hydrodynamic test tanks, and dedicated simulation facilities that ensure product maturity before field delivery.

The Indian Navy’s Scorpène-class submarines, constructed under license by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) with design support from France’s Naval Group, currently rely on basic torpedo capabilities. The BSA acquisition significantly enhances their punch, giving India a credible heavyweight torpedo system capable of regional deterrence and offensive reach well into contested maritime zones. This also comes amid growing Chinese naval assertiveness in the Indian Ocean, adding urgency to India’s push for undersea dominance.

For Fincantieri and WASS, this deal not only represents a financial milestone but also establishes a beachhead for deeper engagement in one of the world’s most strategically important naval markets. As one WASS executive told Army Recognition on condition of anonymity, “This is not just a contract - it’s a strategic entry into the Indo-Pacific theater with a platform that is already combat-certified. We believe it lays the foundation for long-term cooperation and expansion across India’s undersea warfare priorities.”

The Black Shark Advanced’s integration into the Indian Navy’s frontline submarines marks a definitive shift in India's undersea warfare posture, elevating its submarine force with a weapon that combines precision, endurance, and survivability. The eyes of regional navies will now turn toward how quickly and effectively the BSA becomes operational - and how it may alter the dynamics of undersea deterrence in South Asia.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.