Italian shipbuilding and defense major Fincantieri has secured a major export contract through its subsidiary WASS Submarine Systems to supply Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. Valued at more than €200 million, the agreement marks the largest export order in WASS’s 150-year history and highlights strengthening defense cooperation between Italy and India amid growing undersea security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Black Shark Advanced torpedoes will equip the Indian Navy’s six Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines, locally designated as the Kalvari class. Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2030, with manufacturing centered at WASS’s Livorno facility in Italy. In addition to the torpedoes, the contract includes integrated launch and control systems, maintenance equipment, training support, and a comprehensive package of spares, providing the Indian Navy with a fully integrated undersea strike capability.
The deal is particularly significant as it marks the return of the Black Shark family to Indian service after earlier procurement efforts were halted in 2016 due to unrelated corruption investigations involving other defense programs. Defense sources note that the new contract, executed entirely under Fincantieri’s ownership and oversight, reflects New Delhi’s urgent requirement to modernize submarine armaments in response to increasing naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
The Black Shark Advanced represents a next-generation heavyweight torpedo designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Featuring electric propulsion for ultra-quiet operation, fiber-optic wire guidance, and advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities, the torpedo offers long-range, high-precision engagement in both littoral and deep-water environments. Its digital architecture and NATO-standard compatibility are expected to significantly enhance the lethality and survivability of India’s submarine fleet.
