The Netherlands has selected Naval Group to supply F21 heavyweight torpedoes for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s future Orka-class submarines. The contract follows the Dutch government’s March 2026 decision to arm the new submarine fleet with the F21, making the Netherlands the first NATO member to adopt the weapon.
Alongside the torpedoes, Naval Group will provide logistics support, training services, and simulation systems for Dutch naval personnel. The weapons will be integrated into the four Orka-class submarines currently being built by the French shipbuilder as replacements for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s aging Walrus-class boats.
Developed by Naval Group, the F21 was designed to succeed the F17 anti-ship torpedo while combining anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in a single system. The torpedo entered operational service in 2019 and is currently deployed aboard both conventional and nuclear-powered submarines operated by the French and Brazilian navies.
The F21 weighs approximately 1,550 kilograms (3,417 pounds), is 6 meters (20 feet) long, and has a diameter of 533 millimeters (21 inches). Equipped with a proximity-fuze detonation system, it can engage targets at ranges of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles). Powered by an electric propulsion system, the weapon can reach speeds of up to 50 knots and operate at depths of up to 600 meters (1,969 feet).
