Italy’s Fincantieri has announced that its underwater weapons subsidiary, WASS Submarine Systems, has secured a contract valued at more than €200 million to supply Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. The agreement strengthens defense cooperation between Italy and India while supporting New Delhi’s efforts to modernize its undersea warfare capabilities.
Fincantieri confirmed the deal as a major export milestone for WASS, describing it as the largest overseas order in the company’s 150-year history. The contract reflects growing demand across the Indo-Pacific for advanced submarine and anti-submarine warfare solutions amid evolving maritime security challenges.
Under the agreement, 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 package includes integrated launch systems, maintenance equipment, and comprehensive spares, providing the Indian Navy with a fully integrated and sustained capability.
The contract also marks the return of the Black Shark program to India following the cancellation of an earlier procurement in 2016 linked to unrelated corruption allegations. This new agreement, executed under Fincantieri’s direct control, comes as India accelerates naval modernization to counter rising undersea threats in the Indian Ocean region.
The Black Shark Advanced is a next-generation heavyweight torpedo designed for stealthy, long-range engagements against both surface and submerged targets. It features electric propulsion for low acoustic signatures, fiber-optic wire guidance, advanced counter-countermeasures, and a modular digital architecture that allows real-time tactical updates during missions. Designed for operations in both littoral and blue-water environments, the system offers high lethality with reduced lifecycle and maintenance demands.
