Key Highlights
- BDL delivers first production grade indigenous Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo.
- Delivery completed at NSTL Visakhapatnam on April 23 2026.
- Program executed in partnership with DRDO’s NSTL under DcPP model.
- Torpedo developed for both practice and combat configurations.
- Advanced homing propulsion and re attack capabilities integrated.
- Milestone supports India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence objectives.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a defence public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, has achieved a significant milestone in indigenous naval weapon manufacturing with the successful production and delivery of India’s first production-grade Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT).
The delivery was completed to the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) at Visakhapatnam on April 23 2026. The event marked a key step in strengthening India’s self-reliance in advanced underwater weapon systems.
The programme was executed through a collaborative framework, with BDL acting as the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) alongside NSTL, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The achievement represents the transition from development to full-scale production of a complex indigenous torpedo system.
Senior officials and dignitaries attended the event, including Dr. V. R. Vara Prasad, Distinguished Scientist and Director General of Naval Systems and Materials, Commodore A. Madhavarao (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, and Dr. Abraham Varughese, Director of NSTL, along with teams from BDL, NSTL, and the Indian Navy.
The torpedo has been realized in both practice and combat configurations, demonstrating operational readiness across deployment scenarios. It incorporates advanced technologies such as state-of-the-art homing and propulsion systems, along with enhanced search, attack, and re-attack capabilities. These features are expected to significantly strengthen the Indian Navy’s underwater warfare capabilities.
The milestone highlights the success of coordinated efforts between DRDO and BDL in building a robust indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. It also reflects the growing role of domestic industry partners, including MSMEs, in supporting complex defence production programmes.
The productionization of the Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo underscores India’s increasing technological capability in high-end naval systems and aligns with the government’s broader push towards self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.