A torpedo's looming endurance test
The Varunastra is being developed for range and speed to take on future submarine threats in the region
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 "Satarupa Bhattacharjya")
 "An advanced heavyweight torpedo, Varunastra, weighing around 1850 kilograms and has acoustic-homing abilities which enables targeting of silent submarines (Photo: Indian Navy)")
The advanced heavyweight torpedo, Varunastra, which weighs around 1,850 kilograms and has acoustic-homing abilities, can target silent submarines (Photo: Indian Navy)
The Varunastra, named after the sea god in Hindu mythology, is an advanced heavyweight torpedo that is fitted on Indian warships.The electrically propelled torpedo can be fired from ships at submarines, both in deep and shallow waters.The torpedo weighs around 1,850 kilogrammes (kg) and can reach depths of 600 metres while travelling between 40 and 50 knots. It has a range of around 40 kilometres. It was inducted in 2016 after being designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the government agency, as part of the Indian Navy’s underwater weapons suite.It is being developed further for range,
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Satarupa Bhattacharjya
Satarupa Bhattacharjya is a journalist with 25 years of work experience in India, China and Sri Lanka. She covered politics, government and policy in the past. Now, she writes on defence and geopolitics.
 "Satarupa Bhattacharjya")
First Published: Oct 07 2025 | 12:34 PM IST
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