UDT 2025 – Welcome back WASS, now a Fincantieri company
Celebrating its 150th anniversary, WASS[1] Submarine Systems (WASS in short), the historical brand associated with torpedoes and underwater warfare systems, takes on new challenges after the acquisition by Fincantieri from Leonardo. The closing was registered on 14 January 2025, only seven months since the preliminary agreement signature by the two Italian companies’ CEOs, in May 2024. With a workforce of around 500 people, WASS is historically headquartered in Livorno with design, assembly, and support facilities, while the sonars production site is located in Pozzuoli, near Naples
The participation of WASS to the UDT 2025 exhibition/conference in Oslo, was the first public appearance of the new Fincantieri company, which couldn’t have been more under the spotlight for an important achievement regarding its iconic product: the Black Shark Advanced (BSA) heavy-weight torpedo (HWT). Speaking during the new U212 CD submarines joint German-Norwegian procurement programme briefing, the two Navies’ representatives unveiled the intention to integrate both the latest torpedo version of the Atlas Elektronik Seahake family (the mod 5/DM2A5 model which development contract is expected to be awarded in 2025), and the WASS Black Shark Advanced HWTs on the next generation U212 CD (Common Design) Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)/Lithium-Ion batteries (LiB) boats for their respective services.
The BSA represents the latest iteration of the HWT which was sold initially on the international market and then to the national customer, who decided to adopt a state-of-the art customized version called NSP (Nuovo Siluro Pesante, new heavyweight torpedo), which formed the basis of the BSA.
Capable to reach 50 knots-plus speed with a range of over 50 km (depending on speed), the BSA differs from the original Black Shark model for an insensitive munition (IM) around 250 kg warhead provided by RWM Italia, a Rheinmetall company, and equipped with a low-energy exploding foil ignitor (LEFI), an interchangeable battery section (either warshot or exercise), a new reinforced fiber-optic cable dispenser, and a customized tactical software with enhanced acoustic counter-counter-measures. The BSA comes either with a single-shot aluminum-silver oxide (Al-AgO) battery featuring an electrolyte circuit with reduced ‘operating’ acoustic signature, which limits the adversary detection capabilities through the running-attack phase, or a commercially-based lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) cells rechargeable battery for training and crew efficiency activities. The BSA is today fully integrated on different classes of submarines (EDR On-Line understood Scorpene, U-209, U-212A, U-214, U-218, A-17 Archer, and fitted for Kilo) equipped with different tube types and combat management systems (CMSs) and an undisclosed midget submarine type.
“The latest Black Shark version has been selected and contracted by all the international customers of the WASS HWT,” Gabriele Bertini, WASS Regional Manager Italy and Europe, said, another testimony of the capable product and company’s capacity to keep with the latest operational requirements.
The Black Shark in its initial model was sold to the Malaysian, Chilean and Portuguese Navies and an undisclosed customer which has been identified by different sources as the Republic of Singapore, although WASS has never confirmed or commented officially the news. These are the operators which are upgrading the weapon to the BSA standard while the latter model was sold in the meantime to Indonesia, and WASS confirmed an additional customer without providing further details or comment, although EDR On-Line understood this being Qatar. The BSA/NSP will be the standard outfit not only for the new Italian Navy U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine) submarines but also for in-service U212As which are using the ageing A-184 also provided by WASS and potentially the latest batch of two Sauro-class upgraded boats. The increasing number of platforms to be equipped with the BSA means new torpedoes to be procured.
Although the company does not provide information on potential deals or procurement tenders, the Indian MoD has confirmed the BSA is one of the three contenders for the programme to acquire a new generation HWT to equip the enlarging fleet of conventional submarines for its Navy. Other potential customers are interested in the BSA, WASS confirmed.
WASS is also involved in the French-Italian programme which led to the development and production of the the MU-90 Impact, considered the most performant of lightweight torpedoes (LWTs). “Delivered to 13 countries including France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Australia, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and an undisclosed operator, a number of these customers are looking for additional batches of MU-90s due to the new geostrategic scenarios and increased underwater threat,” Gabriele Bertini said.
Developed to deal with both conventional and nuclear-powered dual-hull submarine threats, the MU-90 is equipped with a shaped charge warhead and propelled by an electronically controlled motor driving a cavitation free pump-jet which allows variable stepless speeds from 29 to 50 knots, an operational depth from 3 to over 1,000 meters, and the capability to be deployed from both surface and airborne platforms. WASS is a shareholder (50%, with responsibility for the propulsion section and the torpedo control and guidance unit), together with Naval Group and Thales (the remaining 50%) of the Eurotorp consortium, which is keeping the weapon system up-to-date and effective thanks to a series of enhancements to eliminate obsolescence, among which WASS is responsible for a new propulsion motor.
WASS continues to invest on its fully developed in house, lower cost but capable A-244/S LWT which continues to gain customers and production. “In Europe, at least three nations, Greece, Portugal and Spain, need to replace their Mk 46 torpedoes and there is a strong interest for our A-244/S model together with the MU-90,” Gabriele Bertini said. The latest addition to the A-244/S family is the Mark 4 model which could come as an upgrade kit for in-service or new production weapons. The latest version introduces enhancements to both the motor and the energy storage system increasing maximum speed and endurance. “A key benefit of selecting our solution is the full maintenance support in house (up to level 3)”, he explained. Asked about the latest A-224/S customers Bertini stated: “We already have two Mk 4 customers located in the Asian region, and we are looking to add more in the next future.”
WASS is also proposing the Black Scorpion, the smallest torpedo available on the market. Developed under an operational need for a weapon capable of forcing the threat to unveil itself, accelerating the classification process and avoiding the use of expensive conventional torpedoes, but also capable to disable lightweight underwater platforms such as swimmer delivery vehicles (SDV) or midgets, the Black Scorpion has been qualified and is ready to be delivered to the launch customer. WASS, however, hasn’t identified it, due to non-disclosure agreement. With a 1.1 metres length and 127 mm diameter, the same as WASS’s new MJTE (Mobile Jammer Target Emulator) anti-torpedo decoy system, and an 11 kg mass, the Black Scorpion is compatible with the airborne sonobuoy type A launchers, surface and underwater platform-based lightweight launchers developed by WASS. With an electrical motor providing a top speed of over 12 knots and capable to operate from shallow waters up to depths of 200 meters, the Black Scorpion is fitted with a 2.8 kg PBX-type explosive omni-directional charge and can be preselected to follow specific operating modes. Thanks to its reduced dimensions, the mini-torpedo can equip both manned and unmanned air, surface and underwater platforms becoming a key weapon for shallow waters operations such as among Northern Europe countries, where the weapon is being promoted.
WASS reenters the sonar domain
WASS has a long tradition in the development of torpedo homing systems that, alongside anti-torpedo countermeasures, towed array, and obstacle avoidance sonar systems, are equipped with state-of-the-art sonar transducers and other equipment being produced at the company’s facilities near Naples. Thanks to its vast knowledge and know-how in the underwater domain, as part of the Italian Navy’s Fleet Renewal programme (also known as Legge Navale) encompassing the shipbuilding of Thaon di Revel-class PPA/Multipurpose Combat Ships (MPCSs), Trieste LHD and Vulcano-class LSS platforms, alongside the development of their combat systems, WASS provides the Active Towed Array System (ATAS) variable depth sonar (VDS). The latter completed qualification and acceptance activities in late 2024 on the first of two PPA/MPCS in the Full configuration and is also being promoted as a containerized stand-alone ASW system for multi-role and multi-mission platforms. With the Italian Navy’s plans to standardize its PPA/MPCS to a “Full” and/or “EVO” configuration, more ATAS systems are expected to be procured by the service, which EDR On-Line understood is also considering the system for other platforms, such as the MMPC (Multi-Mission Patrol Corvette).
On the export side, the ATAS could be part of the Full configuration suite which Indonesia could acquire to further enhance the combat capabilities of its two new MPCS/PPA Light Plus platforms.
Developed as the only sonar system equipping the PPA/MPCS, the ATAS is a low and medium frequency, active and passive VDS, with a total mass of less than 9 tons and a low footprint, allowing the system to be easily installed/removed to be transferred to other class vessels. The suite includes the launch and recovery systems (LARS) for both the towed emitting body and passive array with torpedo detection capabilities, which are connected together as a single towed line once lowered into the water, power and processing cabinets and local console.
WASS designed the ATAS towed body to incorporate a vertical transmitter array consisting of free flooded rings, which provides omnidirectional transmission at high source level. The connected receiving linear array consists of multiple hydrophone triplets allowing left-right ambiguity resolution. The towed body cable has a length of around 400 meters, while the connected smaller diameter cable measures less than 150 meters and includes the passive array that is longer than 20 meters. Even with its limited mass and automatic depth regulation, the ATAS is characterized by a maximum operative depth of over 260 metres at typical ASW patrolling speeds, allowing good acoustic coverage in any propagation condition, and a detection capability beyond the first oceanic convergence zone, on targets generically defined as ‘modern submarines’, WASS claims.
The intense operational testing to which the Italian Navy has subjected the ATAS before accepting it (with configuration enhancements to meet the customer requirements) showed the system’s capabilities for operations in the littoral warfare environment. These characteristics have further pushed WASS to offer the system in a containerized configuration, working on a cooperation agreement to develop such solution with SH Defence, which was presented at Euronaval 2024.
Another breakthrough success in the sonar domain was obtained in July 2024, when the Italian MoD’s Naval Armament Directorate awarded the contract for the development and procurement of a new broadband variable depth sonar to equip the next generation mine countermeasure vessels for the Italian Navy. The latter are being developed, built, and provided by the temporary consortium of companies led by Intermarine as prime contractor for the platform, with Leonardo as design authority and main supplier of the combat system.
Under the Italian Navy Fleet Renewal programme, WASS developed the Black Snake torpedo detection system (TDS) which was acquired by both national and international operators.
Although WASS didn’t provided information on the customers, EDR On-Line understood the system was sold to Qatar for equipping the Al Zubarah-class corvettes and the Al Fulk-class LPD built by Fincantieri, and more recently to the UAE to equip the new LPD being built by Indonesian shipyard PT PAL and equipped with a combat system provided by Leonardo. The Black Snake also equips Italian Navy’s largest platform, the Trieste LHD, and has been selected for the Doria-class (Horizon type) guided-missile destroyers Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) programme.
The latest WASS developments in both sonar and torpedo detection systems pushed Fincantieri to further support the company in another segment, key for national sovereignty: the underwater detection suite for submarines. The Italian shipbuilder is prime contractor for the U212 NFS AIP/LiB submarines under construction for the Italian Navy. Together with Italian Navy and Leonardo as prime for the submarine combat system, Fincantieri contracted German ELAC Sonar (a Cohort group company) to provide the NFS’s full sonar suite except for the passive towed array. “After a technical analysis of the latest developments of both WASS and Fincantieri’s capabilities, the latter has decided to offer an in-house solution to respond to the Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) for the passive towed array which OCCAR, the procurement organization responsible for the NFS development and production, is expected to approve by the end of 2025,” Gabriele Bertini said. A challenging development which, although no details were released, is expected to involve – EDR On-Line understood – both WASS for the towed array and Remazel Engineering, another Fincantieri company, for the launch and recovery system.
Another key family of successful products regards the anti-torpedo countermeasures and their launching systems represented by the C-310 and C-303/S solutions, respectively for surface and underwater vessels, both sold worldwide. Although WASS did not specify customers, the C-310 saw main success in the Middle East and Asia with customers – EDR On-Line understood – being Qatar, UAE, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Egypt and Singapore, while the C-303/S found applications on U-218, A-17 Archer and Scorpene platforms in service with the Indian Navy and an undisclosed customer that has been identified by different sources as the Republic of Singapore. WASS confirmed to EDR On-Line the recent addition of two new customers in Europe, without providing further details.
The current families of stationary jammers and mobile target emulators used by these launching systems are expected to be replaced by the new generation Mobile Jammer Target Emulator (MJTE) decoy for both surface and underwater applications. Developed under the contract awarded by the Italian Navy, the MJTE is expected to equip all the latest surface and underwater platforms of the same service, including the newest U212 NFS under a recent ECP and the MLU of current U212A.
The new decoy is capable to counter the attacks of latest generation lightweight and heavyweight wire and not wire-guided torpedoes, WASS claims. The MJTE combines in a single body the capabilities of current stationary jammers and mobile target emulators, therefore reducing the number of decoys in a salvo, nearly doubling the number of defensive actions. It can emulate the acoustics characteristics of its host moving or stationary platform and emit a powerful jamming signal to hide the host vessel while this is performing an effective evasive manoeuvre.
The MJTE body is around 1.3 meters long and has a 127 mm diameter, a mass of 21 kg, and features a transmitter front section, battery, electronics, and a rear motor section with a towed receiver. It also comes in an exercise configuration, buoying at the end of the mission allowing its recovery.
WASS also provides its obstacle avoidance/mine detection sonar for the Italian Navy and export customers, further consolidating its footprint in the underwater domain.
Photos courtesy WASS and L. Peruzzi
[1] Originally WASS was the acronym for Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei
