Munitions

F21 heavyweight torpedo

Also known as
  • F21 torpedo
  • F21 Artemis
  • F21 Artémis
  • F21 heavy torpedo
  • F21 HWT
  • F-21
  • F21 Mk 2
  • F21 Mk2
  • F 21 Heavy Torpedo
  • Future Torpille Lourde
  • FTL
  • Torpille lourde F21
  • Torpille lourde F 21
  • Naval Group F21

The F21 is Naval Group's French 533 mm heavyweight torpedo developed under the DGA-led Artemis program to replace the F17 Mod 2 on French submarines. Official and specialist sources describe a submarine-launched, fibre-optic wire-guided weapon with autonomous acoustic homing, countermeasure resistance, blue-water and littoral operating modes, French and Brazilian service, and selection for the Netherlands' future Orka-class submarines.

F21 heavyweight torpedo, 533 mm heavyweight torpedo, Munitions
Image source: F21 | Naval Group
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
France
Built by
Naval Group
Type
533 mm heavyweight torpedo
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Naval Group
Produced
First French Navy batch delivered in November 2019; Brazilian Navy batch delivered in January 2020

Specifications

Caliber
533-533.4 mm
Length
About 6,000 mm
Weight
About 1,300 kg in the DGA fact sheet; less than 1,500 kg in Naval Group product data
Speed
25 to more than 50 knots
Operating depth
10 m to more than 500 m
Range
50 km / more than 50 km in official fact-sheet wording
Guidance
Fibre-optic wire guidance during launch, with fire-and-forget autonomous guidance available and autonomous operation if the wire is severed
Propulsion
Electric drive with two counter-rotating multi-blade propellers
Operating environment
Blue-water and littoral combat
Intended targets
Submarines and surface vessels
Countermeasures
Designed for countermeasure resistance and decoy recognition
Variants

Public sources use F21, F21 Artemis, and F21 Mk2/Mk 2 language for the same French heavyweight-torpedo line. The D-19/D-19T UUV family is F21-derived training or unmanned-vehicle work and is not listed here as a torpedo variant.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F21 / F21 ArtemisBaseline French heavyweight torpedo

Naval Group identifies F21 as the Artemis-program torpedo qualified for French submarines and selected by Brazil.

Sources: F21 | Naval Group, F21 second to none Naval Group

F21 Mk2Netherlands Orka-class selection

Dutch procurement reporting describes the F21 MK2 as the heavyweight torpedo selected for integration into the future Orka-class submarines.

Sources: Dutch MoD Selects F21 MK2 torpedoes over MK48

Launch Platforms

Open sources document F21 integration through French submarine qualification, Suffren-class trials, Brazilian Scorpene selection, and the Netherlands Orka-class procurement path.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Suffren-class submarine, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval SystemsSuffren-class submarineNuclear-powered attack submarine

MBDA reported several F21 heavy-torpedo test firings during Suffren weapon-system trials, and Naval Group lists the F21 among the Suffren-class armament set.

Sources: Exocet SM39 and MdCN firings from Suffren, Naval Group delivers the Suffren

Design And Service Context

The F21 is a submarine-launched torpedo whose public record centers on integration, qualification firings, and selected submarine fleets rather than documented combat use.

Guidance path

A fibre-optic datalink lets the submarine exchange information with the torpedo during the firing cycle; the weapon can also continue autonomously using its own detection and guidance functions.

Operating envelope

Official data describes a 533 mm class torpedo built for both blue-water and littoral combat, with more than 50 km range, more than 50 knot intercept speed, and countermeasure resistance.

Known users

French submarines operate the F21, Brazil selected it for four Scorpene submarines, and the Netherlands signed a 2026 contract for Orka-class submarine armament.

Sources: F21 | Naval Group; DGA F21 Artemis fact sheet; Naval Group delivered first F21 batches; Dutch MoD and Naval Group Ink F21 Torpedo Procurement Contract.

Timeline

F21 heavyweight torpedo Key Events

  1. New-generation torpedo development begins

    Naval Group says its teams began developing a new generation of heavyweight torpedoes in 2007 under the DGA-led Artemis program.

    Sources: F21 second to none Naval Group

  2. Artemis realization contract

    DGA background describes the F21 Artemis as the French heavyweight torpedo program intended to replace the F17 Mod 2 and equip French submarines.

    Sources: La torpille lourde F21 Artemis

  3. Nuclear-submarine qualification launch

    Naval Group performed an F21 launch from a French nuclear-powered attack submarine under DGA authority at the Hyeres underwater acoustic range.

    Sources: F21 torpedo launch test from nuclear attack sub

  4. F21 qualified

    Naval Group and later procurement reporting describe the F21 as qualified in 2019 for French submarine service.

    Sources: F21 second to none Naval Group, Dutch MoD and Naval Group Ink F21 Torpedo Procurement Contract

  5. First French Navy batch delivered

    Naval News reported that Naval Group delivered an initial batch of six F21 torpedoes to the French Navy in November 2019.

    Sources: Naval Group delivered first F21 batches

  6. Brazilian Navy batch delivered

    Naval News reported that another F21 batch was delivered to the Brazilian Navy in January 2020 for use with Brazil's Scorpene-class submarines.

    Sources: Naval Group delivered first F21 batches

  7. Suffren weapon-system trials include F21 firings

    MBDA's publication of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces release said Suffren completed several F21 heavy-torpedo test firings during its Mediterranean trials.

    Sources: Exocet SM39 and MdCN firings from Suffren

  8. Realistic-target live firing

    The French Ministry of the Armed Forces said a French nuclear-powered attack submarine fired an F21 at the depolluted hull of the former Premier-Maitre L'Her on December 14, 2024.

    Sources: French Navy F21 realistic-target firing

  9. Netherlands contract signed

    The Netherlands Ministry of Defence and Naval Group signed a contract to supply F21 torpedoes for the Royal Netherlands Navy's Orka-class submarines.

    Sources: The Netherlands Navy chooses the F21 torpedo, Dutch MoD and Naval Group Ink F21 Torpedo Procurement Contract

Media

F21 heavyweight torpedo Videos

Related Weapon Systems
LampreyMMAUV, Multi-mission autonomous undersea vehicle, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsLampreyMMAUVMulti-mission autonomous undersea vehicleLockheed Martin's LampreyMMAUV is a plug-and-play autonomous undersea vehicle publicly unveiled in 2026 for covert access, sea denial, ISR, and seabed-warfare missions. Official material describes a 24 cubic foot internal payload bay, host-ship or submarine attachment, battery recharge while attached, optional UAV launch tubes, and mission kits for torpedoes, decoys, sensors, or other payloads; public sources reviewed for this entry document development and exercise activity rather than confirmed armed-conflict use.

Sources

F21 | Naval GroupPublisher: Naval Group | Note: Supports F21 identity, Artemis program background, replacement of the F17, French submarine qualification, Brazilian selection, guidance description, autonomy if the wire is severed, image provenance, and published specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-04F21 second to none Naval GroupPublisher: Naval Group | Note: Supports 2007 development start, Artemis program context, qualification for French SSNs and SSBNs, Brazilian Scorpene selection, over 100 sea trials, onboard intelligence, countermeasure context, and incremental upgrade framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DGA F21 Artemis fact sheetPublisher: Ministere des Armees | Note: Supports official F21 specifications, target set, 533.4 mm diameter, about 1,300 kg weight, more than 50 knot and more than 50 km performance wording, blue-water and littoral use, counter-rotating propellers, fibre-optic datalink, fire-and-forget capability, countermeasure resistance, and safety framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-04La torpille lourde F21 ArtemisPublisher: Ministere des Armees | Note: Supports DGA F21 Artemis program background, replacement of F17 Mod 2, submarine integration context, and role against surface vessels and submarines. | Accessed: 2026-07-04F21 torpedo launch test from nuclear attack subPublisher: MarineLink | Note: Supports the May 2018 Naval Group/DGA F21 launch from a French nuclear-powered attack submarine, qualification-test context, French Navy delivery plan, and Brazilian selection. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Naval Group delivered first F21 batchesPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports November 2019 French Navy delivery, January 2020 Brazilian Navy delivery, Brazil as first export customer, French requirement context, intended French submarine integration, and published technical background. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Exocet SM39 and MdCN firings from SuffrenPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports Suffren weapon-system trials, several F21 heavy-torpedo test firings during Mediterranean trials, and F21 carriage planned for all French Navy submarines. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Naval Group delivers the SuffrenPublisher: Naval Group | Note: Supports Suffren-class armament listing that includes F21 heavyweight torpedoes, along with submarine platform context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04French Navy F21 realistic-target firingPublisher: Ministere des Armees | Note: Supports the December 14, 2024 French nuclear-powered attack submarine F21 firing against a depolluted former combat-ship hull during a realistic-target experiment. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Dutch MoD and Naval Group Ink F21 Torpedo Procurement ContractPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the June 16, 2026 Dutch Ministry of Defence and Naval Group contract for F21 torpedoes for Orka-class submarines, first NATO SSK fleet operator framing, and French/Brazilian service context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04The Netherlands Navy chooses the F21 torpedoPublisher: Naval Group | Note: Supports the June 16, 2026 Netherlands Ministry of Defence and Naval Group contract, Orka-class integration, first NATO SSK fleet operator framing, and current French and Brazilian operation. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Dutch MoD Selects F21 MK2 torpedoes over MK48Publisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the March 2026 Dutch selection of F21 MK2 heavyweight torpedoes for production-phase integration into four Orka-class submarines. | Accessed: 2026-07-04