India’s First Heavy-Weight Anti-Submarine Torpedo Varunastra

News Desk

The Varunastra is an Indian advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It is named after a legendary weapon created by the Hindu god of the oceans, Varuna. In a ceremony held on 21 November 2020, Varunastra has been handed over to the Indian Navy by its manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BEL).

Weight – 1500 KG

Length – 7 to 8 metres

A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Torpedo can be launched from Ship, Airplane or Submarine.

Varunastra is capable of targeting quiet and stealthy submarines, both in deep and littoral waters in intense counter measure environment. It has been designed with latest technologies such as high speed and long endurance propulsion, software driven intelligence, conformal array acoustic homing with wide look angle and advanced digital signal processing. It has GPS based locating aid, a unique feature in contemporary torpedoes in the world.

Besides the heavy-weight torpedo Varunastra, there are other torpedoes developed by India. Advanced Light Torpedo Shyena is the first indigenous advanced lightweight antisubmarine torpedo of India. In March 2017, India signed a $37.9 million deal to supply Shyena to the Myanmar Navy. The first batch of these torpedoes were delivered in July 2019. India also has offered Varunastra to Vietnam.