# Varunastra (torpedo)

The Varunastra (lit. 'Projectile of Varuna') is an Indian advanced autonomous heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It is named after a legendary weapon created by the Hindu god of the oceans, Varuna.
The ship launched variant of Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted in the Indian navy by defence minister Manohar Parrikar on 26 June 2016. The minister in his speech said that the Government is in favour of exporting the torpedo to friendly nations including Vietnam. With some minor modifications the submarine variant of the torpedo is to be test fired shortly.

## Design

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.

## Development

In May 2014 it was reported that the Indian Navy is scheduled to carry out User Evaluation Trials (UETs) during the mid-year period. The assembly of the prototype was done by a team from Bharat Dynamics Limited at the Talwar facility of NSTL in Visakhapatnam.
In FY2015-16, the torpedo underwent 130 technical trials while 14 user trials were conducted between January and March 2015. In September 2015, MoD granted final approval for the torpedo's User Evaluation Trials (UETs) and eventually it was accepted for induction into Services.
Varunastra will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in association with NSTL.
During Aero India 2017, it was reported that DRDO has begun test-firing of a submarine-launched variant of the torpedo. A Sindhughosh-class submarine is being used as the launch platform for the development. The variant was reportedly accepted and ready for production.
In April 2018, Bharat Dynamics Limited obtained a license to manufacture Varunastra from the DRDO. In June 2019, Ministry of Defence awarded a contract worth ₹1,187 crore (equivalent to ₹15 billion or US$170 million in 2023) to Bharat Dynamics Limited to supply Varunastra to the Indian Navy.
On 5 June 2023, Varunastra was fired by a Kamorta-class corvette at an Under Water Target System (UWTS) laid by INS Jalashwa. This was the first trial where the torpedo was equipped with High Explosive (HE) live warhead. On 6 June, the Navy successfully conducted combat trial of Varunastra. The torpedo was fired from a submarine and successfully hit an underwater target.
In September 2024, Apollo Micro Systems Limited received an order for Software Defined Universal Homing System for the Heavy Weight Torpedo from Bharat Dynamics Limited.

## Further development
### Thermal Heavy Weight Torpedo Shakti

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 going sea trials.

### Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo Takshak

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. 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. The torpedo, as of May 2024, is ready for sea trials with the Indian Navy which will pave way for induction for deployment.
On 30 December 2024, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract, worth ₹877 crore (US$100 million), with the French Naval Group to integrate DRDO developed Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo Takshak (EHWT) on Kalvari-Class submarines.

## Operators
### India

* Indian Navy – All future anti-submarine warfare ships will be capable of firing Varunastra. 73 torpedoes were ordered in 2016. Another batch of 63 torpedoes were ordered in 2018.
** Visakhapatnam-class destroyer
** Delhi-class destroyer
** Kolkata-class destroyer
** Rajput-class destroyer
** Kamorta-class corvette
** Nilgiri-class frigate
** Talwar-class frigate
** Sindhughosh-Class Submarine

### Possible operators

* Vietnam - In 2016 India offered to export versions of the Varunastra to Vietnam.

## Gallery

* Admiral Sunil Lanba and Manohar Parrikar taking a close look at the Varunastra, during its handing off ceremony to the Indian Navy
* Varunastra heavy torpedo engaging an underwater target.