The Netherlands has awarded Naval Group a contract for the supply of F21 heavyweight torpedoes for its navy’s Orka – class submarines.
The program follows the Dutch government’s confirmation in March 2026 to equip the future underwater fleet with the weapon, making it the first F21 partner user inside the NATO alliance.
In addition to the warheads, the French company will deliver sustainment, crew training, and simulators for the navy.
Once shipped, the munitions will be distributed to four Orka ships being developed by Naval Group to replace the Dutch Walrus-class submarines.
“The signing of this contract for the F21 torpedo marks an important step in our strategic partnership,” said Vice Admr. Jan Willem Hartman of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Materiel and IT Command.
“The weapon system will be… enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Navy. We look forward to the next phases in our cooperation.”
The F21 Torpedo
Naval Group conceptualized the F21 system to replace the company’s 1970s-era F17 anti-ship torpedo while incorporating anti-submarine capability in one architecture.
It achieved operational capability in 2019 and is now operational across the French Navy and Brazilian Navy’s conventional and nuclear-powered subsurface combatants.
The weapon weighs 1,550 kilograms (3,417 pounds), measures 6 meters (20 feet) long, and has a diameter of 533 millimeters (21 inches).
It uses a proximity detonation mechanism against targets up to 50 kilometers (31 miles), and uses an electric engine for a maximum speed of 50 knots (93 kilometers/58 miles per hour) and a depth of up to 600 meters (1,969 feet).
- The Defense Post