Netherlands Selects French F21 Torpedo for Future Orka-Class Submarines.

The Netherlands plans to arm its future Orka class submarines with the French F21 Mk2 heavyweight torpedo instead of temporarily relying on the U.S. Mk48 used on current Walrus class boats. The decision aligns the weapon with the submarine platform from the start and reflects growing attention to the rapidly evolving technologies shaping modern undersea warfare.

The Netherlands is preparing to equip its next generation Orka class submarines with the French F21 Mk2 heavyweight torpedo, moving away from earlier plans that considered the interim use of the U.S. Mk48 currently deployed aboard the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Walrus class boats. Integrating the F21 during the submarines’ production phase allows the weapon system to be matched with the platform from the outset, simplifying integration and future upgrades. The move comes as the Dutch Navy prepares to replace its aging Walrus fleet in the coming decade with the Orka class, a new design intended to operate across the full spectrum of maritime conflict. Officials have increasingly emphasized the need for modern torpedo technology capable of countering quieter submarines and advanced countermeasures in a rapidly evolving undersea battlespace.
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The F21 is a heavyweight dual-purpose torpedo designed for both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare (Picture source: Naval group)

The Dutch Ministry of Defence confirmed on 3 March 2026 that the F21 MK2 torpedo will be integrated directly into the four new Orka class submarines during construction. The decision replaces the initial concept of equipping the boats with the existing Mk48 torpedo inventory inherited from the Walrus class fleet. Dutch officials explained that accelerated replacement of the Mk48 stockpile has made it possible to adopt the French system earlier than previously expected.

The Orka class submarines themselves represent a major renewal of Dutch undersea capabilities. Built by the French shipbuilder Naval Group, the boats are conventionally powered attack submarines derived from the Barracuda family design adapted for diesel electric propulsion. They are intended to conduct long duration covert missions, including intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, special forces deployment and maritime strike operations. Their design incorporates modern sonar suites, advanced combat management systems, and improved endurance compared with the aging Walrus-class submarines that entered service during the 1990s.

Aligning the submarine platform and its principal weapon within the same industrial ecosystem simplifies integration and reduces the need for later modernization work. This approach also creates opportunities for deeper technical cooperation between the Netherlands and France in submarine operations and weapons employment.

The F21 is a heavyweight dual purpose torpedo designed for both anti submarine warfare and anti surface warfare. Developed in France by Naval Group in cooperation with Thales and Atlas Elektronik, the weapon entered operational service in 2018 and is progressively equipping the French Navy’s submarine fleet as a replacement for the older F17 torpedo. The program also attracted international interest, with Brazil selecting the system for its own submarine force and receiving an initial batch of torpedoes in January 2020.

Technically, the torpedo measures approximately 6.0 meters in length with a standard diameter of 533 millimeters, the NATO standard size for submarine-launched heavyweight torpedoes. Its mass reaches around 1,550 kilograms, and it carries a warhead estimated at roughly 200 kilograms using a proximity fuze detonation mechanism. Electric propulsion powered by aluminum silver oxide batteries drives the weapon through a contra-rotating propeller configuration. This architecture allows the torpedo to reach speeds close to 50 knots, or about 93 kilometers per hour, while maintaining an operational range that can extend to roughly 57 kilometers depending on engagement conditions.

The weapon can operate across a wide depth envelope ranging from approximately 10 meters to 600 meters. Guidance combines wire guidance with active and passive acoustic homing. Through the wire link connecting the torpedo to the launching submarine, operators can adjust targeting data, update search patterns, or redirect the weapon during the engagement. The acoustic seeker then allows the torpedo to autonomously track the target during the terminal phase, even in complex acoustic environments such as congested coastal waters or areas with dense commercial shipping traffic.

Compared with the U.S. Mk48 heavyweight torpedo currently used by the Walrus class submarines, the French F21 follows a similar operational concept but relies on different technological solutions. Both weapons are 533 millimeter submarine-launched torpedoes designed for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, with engagement ranges around 50 kilometers and speeds approaching 50 knots. The Mk48, produced by Lockheed Martin, uses a thermal propulsion system powered by Otto II monopropellant, providing strong sustained speed and proven effectiveness in deep ocean engagements against fast submarines. By contrast, the F21 relies on electric propulsion using aluminum silver oxide batteries, which generates a lower acoustic signature and reduced wake. This quieter propulsion profile can complicate detection by defensive sonar systems, particularly in shallow or acoustically complex waters.

Development of the F21 dates back to the late 2000s. France initially planned a derivative of the Italian Black Shark torpedo under a joint venture between DCNS, Thales and the Italian manufacturer WASS. Industrial disagreements later reshaped the program, and DCNS, now Naval Group, continued development with Thales and Atlas Elektronik. The resulting F21 Artemis program retained several design features similar to the Black Shark concept, including electric propulsion based on aluminum silver oxide batteries and high speed performance around 50 knots.

Testing phases began in the early 2010s. The first sea trials were conducted in February 2013 from the DCNS Pégase test catamaran, followed by submarine launch trials and extensive qualification testing campaigns. Full qualification was completed in June 2017 off the French Mediterranean coast near the Var region. The overall development program carried a budget of roughly €485 million, with an estimated unit cost around €2.3 million in 2012 currency values.

For the Royal Netherlands Navy, the integration of the F21 MK2 within the Orka class architecture directly shapes operational employment. Heavyweight torpedoes remain the central strike capability of conventional submarines, used both in anti-submarine warfare and against high-value surface combatants such as frigates, destroyers or amphibious ships. Long engagement ranges combined with wire-guided control allow submarines to launch attacks while remaining at stand off distance, reducing the likelihood of counter-detection. Quiet electric propulsion further complicates defensive reactions because the weapon produces a lower acoustic signature than many legacy torpedo systems. In practical terms, an Orka-class submarine equipped with F21 weapons can prosecute targets across a wide patrol area while preserving the stealth advantage that defines submarine warfare.

Adopting the same torpedo used by the French Navy also reinforces operational cooperation between the two countries. Shared weapon architecture facilitates exchanges on tactical employment, crew training, and maintenance procedures. Over time, such interoperability can lead to joint exercises focused on submarine warfare scenarios, where crews refine engagement doctrine against increasingly complex maritime threats.

The first Orka-class submarine is expected to enter service starting in 2033. Once operational, the boats will provide the Netherlands with a platform designed for intelligence collection, anti-submarine warfare and maritime strike missions in contested waters. Integrating the F21 MK2 from the production stage ensures that the submarines deploy with a modern weapon aligned with the technological requirements of future undersea conflict.

More broadly, the Dutch choice reflects a gradual shift in European naval procurement toward stronger industrial cooperation within the continent’s defense sector. European navies face a more demanding maritime environment characterized by renewed submarine activity in the North Atlantic, the protection of undersea infrastructure and the proliferation of autonomous underwater systems. Within this context, equipping a European-built submarine with a European torpedo illustrates how allied states are seeking greater technological alignment while strengthening interoperability inside NATO’s maritime framework.