Netherlands to equip new Orka submarines with F21 Mk 2 torpedo
Developed by Naval Group, the F21 heavyweight torpedo is now in service with the navies of France and Brazil. (Naval Group)
The Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNLN's) new Orka-class diesel-electric submarines will be introduced to service with Naval Group's F21 Mk 2 heavyweight torpedo, reversing an earlier plan to initially equip the boats with the existing US-supplied MK 48 Mod 7AT weapon.
Announcing the move on 3 March, the Netherlands' Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the decision would enable the RNLN to introduce a new-generation heavyweight torpedo earlier than originally planned. The F21 Mk 2 is currently in development for the French Navy.
The RNLN's three remaining Walrus-class submarines are all equipped with the MK 48 Mod 7AT heavyweight weapon. The Mod 7AT variant is an upgrade of existing MK 48 Mod 4 warstock which marries the legacy propulsion afterbody with a new guidance and control section from the US Navy's MK 48 Mod 7 weapon.
France's Naval Group was in September 2024 awarded a EUR5.6 billion (USD6.5 billion) contract by the Netherlands MoD for the delivery of four 3,300-tonne Orka-class submarines, with the first due for delivery in 2033. It had previously been assumed that the existing Mk 48 Mod 7AT weapons would transition to the new boats pending the acquisition of a long-term replacement.
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
