In a bold demonstration of maritime dominance, the French Navy has unleashed its F21 heavy torpedo, a cutting-edge underwater weapon that solidifies France’s grip on modern naval warfare.
On December 14, 2024, the French Ministry of Defense announced a resounding success: the F21 heavy torpedo, launched from a nuclear attack submarine (SNA), struck its target with surgical precision during a live test exercise. This test confirms what many already feared—France’s underwater combat capabilities are now deadlier than ever.
The Game-Changing Weapon
Developed by Naval Group, the F21 torpedo is a technological powerhouse designed to hunt down both submarines and surface vessels with unrelenting precision. Whether operating in deep waters or congested, noisy coastal zones filled with decoys and heavy traffic, the F21 is engineered to dominate.
This 6-meter-long, 1.5-tonne “underwater predator” isn’t just fast—it’s blisteringly swift. Propelled by an advanced electric motor powered by a silver oxide-aluminum (AgO-Al) battery, it races toward its prey at over 50 knots (93 km/h) and boasts an astounding range of more than 50 kilometers.
Advanced Targeting That Sees Through Chaos
The F21’s guidance system is where it truly shines. With a wire-guided mid-course navigation system paired with autonomous acoustic homing in the terminal phase, the torpedo is capable of mid-flight adjustments for pinpoint accuracy. Even in the most challenging, noise-saturated underwater environments, the F21 zeroes in on its target like a heat-seeking missile.
But what truly sets it apart is its ability to outsmart modern defenses. Equipped with counter-countermeasure technologies, the F21 shrugs off enemy attempts to jam, decoy, or evade. It’s a torpedo that doesn’t just chase its targets—it hunts them with intelligence.
Destruction on Impact
When the F21 strikes, it strikes hard. Armed with a 200-kg high-explosive warhead, this lethal payload delivers catastrophic damage upon impact. Thanks to its advanced sonar and onboard systems, the torpedo can differentiate between real targets and decoys, ensuring every shot counts.
A Global Force in Underwater Warfare
Operational since 2019, the F21 has been integrated into the French Navy’s most formidable vessels, including nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Its impact isn’t confined to France, either—Brazil’s Navy has chosen the F21 to arm its Scorpène-class submarines, solidifying its reputation as a global standard-bearer in underwater weaponry.
The F21’s development aligns with France’s Artémis program, spearheaded by the Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), which aims to future-proof the French Navy with scalable, state-of-the-art torpedo systems.
The Future of Naval Warfare is Here
This successful test underscores a chilling reality for adversaries: the French Navy now commands an underwater weapon system that’s faster, smarter, and deadlier than anything previously fielded. As global tensions rise beneath the seas, the F21 heavy torpedo positions France at the vanguard of naval supremacy.
In modern warfare, control of the depths decides control of the seas—and with the F21, the French Navy is unmatched.
