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TorpedoesIn service
Heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo
Varunastra (torpedo) is a heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo originating in India. It was built by Bharat Dynamics Limited. Reported operators include Indian Navy.
IndiaAI-generated illustration · Not a photograph · Varunastra heavyweight torpedo in the exact complete photographed display configuration: long red-orange cylindrical body, black rounded nose at right, narrow exposed propeller/tail end at left; same oblique side view with nose nearest camera. Exterior details are illustrative, not specification evidence.
ForceTally · AI-generated illustration · Not a photograph; reference source: Indian Department of Defence Production; source publisher, photographer not separately identified · https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/en/resources/products/heavy-weight-topredo-varunastra; original reference copyright remains with its rights holder. · ForceTally · All rights reserved · Source ↗ · ModifiedHeavyweight anti-submarine torpedo
India
29 June 2016
Indian Navy
Naval Science and Technological Laboratory ( DRDO )
Bharat Dynamics Limited
₹ 10 crore (US$1.0 million) - ₹ 12 crore (US$1.2 million)
Unknown
1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
7.78 m (25.5 ft)
533.4 mm (21.00 in)
High explosive
250 kg (550 lb)
Electric Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries
40 km (25 mi) to 50 km (31 mi)
600 metres (2,000 ft)
40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) to 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph)
Fiber Optic Wire-guided, active-passive acoustic homing + multi- GNSS
Ship Submarine
Indian Navy – System was inducted in 2016. Total 136 torpedoes ordered in two batches. Visakhapatnam -class destroyer Kolkata -class destroyer Delhi -class destroyer Nilgiri -class frigate Talwar -class frigate Kamorta -class corvette Sindhughosh-class submarine
Vietnam - In 2016 India offered to export versions of the Varunastra to Vietnam.
This torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 kW (340 hp) Silver Oxide -Zinc (AgOZn) batteries. It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph), weighs around 1.5 tonnes and can carry 250 kg (550 lb) of conventional warhead. This torpedo has more than 95 per cent indigenous content. Varunastra has conformal array transducer which enables it look at wider angles than most common torpedoes. It also has an advanced autonomous guidance algorithms with low drift navigational aids, insensitive warhead which can operate in various combat scenarios. It is the only torpedo in the world to have a GPS-based locating aid. The exercise variant of Varunastra has integrated instrumentation system for recording all the dynamic parameters of the weapon, redundancy in recovery aids in case of emergency shut down or malfunction.
Shakti heavyweight torpedo uses thermal propulsion technology in contrast to the Varunastra torpedo which uses electric propulsion. The torpedo employs monopropellant fuel, which allows combustion to take place without aerial oxygen, and a pumpjet . Its propulsion unit generates 400 kW of power for faster acceleration. A newer propulsion unit is under development which will be producing 500 kW of power .It can operate at a maximum depth of 600 metres (2,000 ft), a maximum speed of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph). The first image emerged publicly in Twitter on 9 June 2023 which hinted that the torpedo is undergoing sea trials. The Torpedo is expected to be used on India's P-77 and S5 class submarines, as well as older Sindhugosh class.
Takshak torpedo is the advanced version of the Varunastra torpedo which employs an electric battery for propulsion. It has a length of 6.4 metres (21 ft) which is shorter from the previous variant, enabling to be launched from submarines. The torpedo had a range of 40 km (25 mi) and maximum depth of 400 m (1,300 ft). Takshak uses a “swim-out” launch system, which launches torpedoes without compressed air and minimises acoustic signature during launch. It also features ring laser gyro inertial navigation system (RLG INS) as well as GPS / NavIC -based guidance. Takshak has 2 variants: submarine-launched with optical fiber guidance and ship-launched with autonomous guidance. By May 2024, the torpedo was ready for sea trials with the Indian Navy which would pave way for its induction and deployment.
Varunastra India Heavyweight; ASuW/ASW All destroyers ; Talwar , Shivalik , Nilgiri -class frigates; Kamorta -class corvettes ; Sindhughosh -class submarines
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
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Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 0.5334 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
Varunastra (torpedo) equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
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