Barracuda-class submarine (France)

In October 1998, the Delegation Générale pour l'Armement, the French government's defense procurement agency, established an integrated project team consisting of the Naval Staff, DCN (now known as Naval Group), Technicatome and the Commissariat a l'Énergie Atomique, a regulatory body that oversees nuclear power plants, to oversee the design of a new attack submarine class.[7] DCN was to be the boat's designer and builder while Technicatome (since acquired by Areva) was to be responsible for the nuclear power plant. The two companies were to act jointly as a single prime contractor to share the industrial risks, manage the schedules, and be responsible for the design's performance and costs, which at the time was estimated to be US$4.9 billion.[7]

On 22 December 2006, the French government placed a €7.9 billion order for six Barracuda submarines with Naval Group and their nuclear power plants with Areva-Technicatome.[8] According to the DGA “Competition at the subcontractor level will be open to foreign companies for the first time.”[9] According to the contract, the first boat was to commence sea trials in early 2016, with delivery occurring in late 2016/early 2017. This was to be followed by entry into service in late 2017.[10]

Naval Group also designed a conventionally powered derivative, dubbed the SMX-Ocean, featuring fuel cells and vertical launchers.[11] Another conventionally powered design, the Shortfin Barracuda, was selected as a future replacement for the Collins-class vessels with the Royal Australian Navy.[12]

In 2016, Naval Group also began to position itself and its Shortfin Barracuda design to the Royal Canadian Navy's Future Canadian Submarines project. The project was envisaged as replacing the Victoria-class submarines by 2030,[13] however no order was placed by the Canadian Government.

Naval Group is also offering a version of the "Shortfin" diesel-electric variant as replacement for the current Walrus-class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy, competing against the A26 design by Saab and Damen.

Barracudas will use technology from the Triomphant class, including pump-jet propulsion. This class reportedly produces approximately 1/1000 of the detectable noise of the Redoutable-class boats (submarines), and they are ten times more sensitive in detecting other submarines.[14] They will be fitted with torpedo-tube-launched cruise missiles MDCN SCALP Naval for long-range (well above 1,000 km, 620 mi) strikes against strategic land targets. Their missions will include anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, land attack, intelligence gathering, crisis management and special operations.

The Barracuda class nuclear reactor incorporates several improvements over that of the preceding Rubis. Notably, it extends the time between refueling and complex overhauls (RCOHs) from 7 to 10 years, enabling higher at-sea availability.

In support of special operations missions, Barracudas may also accommodate up to 15 commandos, while carrying their equipment in a mobile pod attached aft of the sail.[3]

Designed by Naval Group and TechnicAtome, this classe has the following capabilities:

• SYCOBS combat system with :

• Thales PARTNER communication system with :
  • Thales DIVESAT communications mast with SYRACUSE satellite link.
  • L11, L22 and L16 data-links
  • Thales TUUM-5 Mk2 underwater telephone and emergency beacon
• NEMESIS countermeasure system (based on CONTRALTO) from Naval Group which applies a "confusion / dilution" principle and combines evasive maneuvers with the deployment of Canto-S decoys.
• Nuclear-electric propulsion (NEP) where the screw is turned by an electric motor and not a steam turbine with reduction gearing like most other submarines. This is quieter and allows integration of batteries to further quieting.
  • TechnicAtome K15 150 MW reactor.
  • 2x 10MW turbo-generator groups.
  • Large batteries that allow the submarine to run at minimum reactor power for several days in near perfect quiet.
  • 2x SEMPT Pielstick 480 kW each emergency diesel generators.
• Large endurance :
  • Ten years of nuclear fuel.
  • 70 days of food.
• Removable dry dock for PSM3G six-seat special-forces submarine and room.

Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A (Attack-class submarine)

Profile of the Shortfin Barracuda conventional variant.
Class overview
Name:	Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A
Builders:	Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS and DCN)
Operators:	Royal Australian Navy
Preceded by:	Collins class
Cost:	A$89.7 billion (2020)[22][23] for 12 units + ToT (est.) A$7.48 billion (2020)[22][23] per unit (est.)
In commission:	Approx. 2030–2070 (planned)
Planned:	12
Building:	0
Completed:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Diesel-electric attack submarine
Displacement:	over 4,000 t submerged
Length:	97 m (318 ft)
Propulsion:	1 x 7 MW (9,400 hp) permanent magnet motor 4 x diesel alternators
Range:	18,000 nm
Endurance:	90 days submerged
Complement:	60 crew 12 clearance divers
Armament:	8 x 533mm torpedo tubes Payload: 28 torpedoes mix of: Mk 48 torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, A3SM (MICA) anti-air missiles or Mk III Stonefish mines

Naval Group submitted a conventionally powered diesel-electric variation to the design – named the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A, a derivative of the SMX Ocean concept – to the competitive evaluation process (CEP) phase of Australia's Collins-class submarine replacement. "While exact details remain confidential, DCNS can confirm the Shortfin Barracuda is over 90 metres in length and displaces more than 4,000 tons when dived," said Sean Costello, CEO of Naval Group Australia.[24] Naval Group was chosen by the Australian Government on 26 April 2016 to build twelve of the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A variant at a projected AU$50 billion (US$35.7 billion). Much of the works will be undertaken at ASC Pty Ltd in Adelaide, South Australia.[25][26] Construction is expected to begin in 2020 or 2021.[27]

The class will be known as the Attack-class submarine with the first vessel named HMAS Attack.

• List of submarines of France
• Submarine forces (France)
• Future of the French Navy
• Cruise missile submarine
• Attack submarine

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Suffren class submarines.

• DCN official site at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 February 2008)
• France unveils plans for new Barracuda SSNs at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 30 March 2006)
• France’s Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class at Defense Industry Daily.