India’s missile manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) announced that the first Varunastra heavy torpedo was delivered to the Indian Navy.
The production of the first torpedo was completed and transported out of the BDL factory on November 21. Varunastra was developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Navy.
BDL received a DRDO license for Varunastra production in April 2018. In June 2019, Indian MoD India signed a contract worth 1,187 crores ($170 million) with the company for the serial production of torpedoes for the Indian Navy.
DRDO stated “Varunastra is ship launched, heavyweight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo capable of targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasures environment. Varunastra can be fired from all ASW ships capable of firing heavyweight torpedoes.”
The torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KW Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries. It has a maximum speed of 40 knots, a range of 21.6 knots and can dive to 400 meters. Like most modern torpedoes, it is guided by passive and / or active acoustic homing. According to local media reports, the torpedo also features GPS guidance capability.
