Italian shipbuilder and defense group Fincantieri has won a contract exceeding €200 million through its subsidiary, WASS Submarine Systems, to deliver Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. The agreement underscores deepening defense ties between Rome and New Delhi and highlights India’s continued focus on strengthening its submarine warfare capabilities.
Company officials confirmed that the order represents the largest export contract in WASS’s long operational history, signaling renewed international confidence in Italy’s undersea weapons expertise. The deal comes amid increasing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, where navies are prioritizing modern, survivable undersea strike systems.
The Black Shark Advanced torpedoes will be deployed aboard the Indian Navy’s Scorpène-class submarines, with deliveries planned from 2028 to 2030. Production will be carried out at WASS’s Livorno manufacturing site, and the contract scope includes torpedo supply, integrated launch and control networks, maintenance support, and spare parts, ensuring long-term operational readiness.
The procurement is notable for reintroducing the Black Shark torpedo to India after a previous contract was terminated nearly a decade ago. Unlike the earlier program, the current agreement is being executed under Fincantieri’s full ownership and aligns with India’s urgent requirement to enhance undersea deterrence in response to evolving regional threats.
Technically, the Black Shark Advanced is a modern heavyweight torpedo compatible with NATO-standard 533 mm launch tubes. Measuring approximately 6.3 meters in length and weighing around 1.5 tons, it incorporates electric propulsion for ultra-quiet operation, fiber-optic wire guidance, and dual-mode acoustic and wake-homing seekers. Its advanced digital architecture enables real-time mission updates and effective performance in electronically contested environments, making it a critical upgrade to India’s submarine strike capability.
