For WASS Submarine Systems, 2025 marked more than just another year of innovation. It marked 150 years of maritime engineering heritage - a century and a half spent advancing undersea defence, refining weapon systems, and supporting naval forces across the world. Today, as a key member of the Fincantieri Group, WASS stands at the forefront of torpedo technology, underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare solutions, and advanced undersea systems that shape modern naval capability.

In a year defined by both celebration and strategic ambition, WASS identified UDT as a key event in its global engagement strategy. Describing UDT as “one of the most important European and global trade fairs” for underwater technology, WASS’s direction was clear: they wanted to engage directly with an audience that understands undersea warfare, values technical detail, and is actively exploring next-generation underwater solutions. UDT, with its defence-focused community and high concentration of naval decision-makers, provided the ideal platform.

A Legacy Reintroduced on a Global Stage

The undersea sector in which WASS operates is rapidly evolving, shaped by advances in technology and growing geopolitical complexity. To mark its 150th anniversary, WASS took the opportunity to reintroduce its historic brand identity and reaffirm their expertise in undersea weapons systems, including the Black Shark Advanced (BSA) torpedo - a long-range, heavyweight solution designed for modern submarine combat environments.

Despite its world-leading capability, the team understands that modern navies face new pressures of contested seas, new levels of stealth, the rise of autonomous platforms, and the acceleration of seabed warfare technologies. To stay ahead, suppliers must not only innovate, but they must connect, collaborate, and engage with real operator needs. UDT provided a timely platform to reinforce its historical relevance while presenting its vision for the future.

“End-users, especially in the defence sector, require ready, reliable, and immediately deployable tools and armaments,” the team explained, “and UDT is the event where WASS can showcase its technologies and excellence.”

For attendees evaluating undersea weapons and subsystems, this context mattered. WASS was not simply showcasing a product; it was demonstrating a technological lineage shaped by decades of operational experience, constant refinement, and collaboration with navies worldwide.

Strategic Outcomes and Milestones

In 2025, WASS Submarine Systems participated in Oslo under the new guise of a Fincantieri Group company and with the name "WASS Submarine Systems," reclaiming the stage and dusting off its true historical identity in the year of its milestone anniversary celebrations. During the event, it was announced that “WASS’ Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedo had been selected as a potential candidate by end-users GER-NOR to equip the U212 CD platform.” This marked an important milestone for the company, as the platform represents one of the most advanced submarine projects underway in Europe.

This visibility elevated the profile of the Black Shark Advanced, enabling WASS to engage directly with stakeholders exploring requirements, timelines, and integration pathways. Additionally, during UDT 2025, WASS started discussions with EuroAtlas regarding potential integration of the Black Scorpion mini torpedo into the Grey Shark UAV. These conversations demonstrate UDT’s ability to spark cross-domain innovation and collaboration between allied industry partners. The event supports not only commercial engagement but also programme-level dialogue - an essential component of capability development.

For a company whose solutions support complex undersea operations, UDT’s networking environment allows WASS to engage with professionals who understand weapon system integration, environmental constraints, and platform architectures. One of UDT’s distinguishing qualities described by the team at WASS, was “the participation of foreign delegations and companies with high-level technical expertise,” which creates a competitive but cohesive environment for knowledge exchange.

As global interest in seabed warfare, autonomous systems, and advanced undersea weapons continues to grow, WASS generated strong interest in their solutions across multiple delegations, OEMs, and naval engineering teams. The conversations opened pathways for potential collaborations, market expansion, and deeper engagement with nations prioritising undersea capability growth.

For WASS, UDT reinforced their position not just as a systems provider, but as a long-term partner contributing to the overall advancement of undersea defence.

Looking Ahead

As WASS moves into its next era of undersea innovation, UDT remains a strategic fixture - a place to showcase capability, engage with stakeholders, and shape the conversation around the future of undersea defence.

For companies considering UDT for the first time, the WASS team advises them to “seize the opportunity and be part of the underwater team.” This means approaching the event not simply as a marketing exercise, but as a strategic engagement opportunity. UDT’s audience is knowledgeable and engaged, and exhibitors who succeed are those who can articulate how their solutions respond to real-world challenges.

WASS’s own 2025 presence at UDT demonstrated that even after 150 years, the company continues to push boundaries beneath the surface, and UDT remains the global platform where that story resonates most strongly.