French Barracuda-class submarine

Barracuda class

Profile of the Barracuda type, with her pump-jet propeller and X-shaped stern planes.
Class overview
Name:	Barracuda class
Builders:	DCNS
Operators:	French Navy
Preceded by:	Rubis class
Cost:	€9.9bn[1] (FY2013) for six boats €1,300m[1] (FY2013) per unit
Built:	Since 2007
In commission:	2018, planned (originally 2017)
Building:	3
Planned:	6
Completed:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Nuclear attack submarine
Displacement:	4,765 t surfaced 5,300 t submerged
Length:	99.4 m (326 ft)
Beam:	8.8 m (29 ft)
Draught:	7.3 m (24 ft)
Propulsion:	2 turboreductors groups: 10 MW (13,000 hp) propulsion alternator feeding electric engines Nuclear reactor K15, 150 MW (200,000 hp) 2 emergency electric engines 1 pump jet
Speed:	Over 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph) 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph), surfaced
Range:	Unlimited range, 10 years (nuclear)
Endurance:	70 days of food [2]
Complement:	12 officers 48 petty officers
Sensors and processing systems:	SYCOBS SEACLEAR Velox-M8
Armament:	4 × 533 mm (21.0 in) tubes 20 storage racks, including MDCN SCALP Naval missiles Exocet SM39 Block2 missiles F21 Artemis heavy torpedoes FG29 Mines[3][4]

The Barracuda class (or Suffren class) is a new nuclear attack submarine, designed by the French shipbuilder DCNS for the French Navy, replacing the Rubis-class submarines. Construction began in 2007 and the first unit will be commissioned in 2018.

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.^[5] 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 type will use X-shaped stern planes.

History

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, 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.^[6] DCN was to be the boat's designer and builder while Technicatome, since absorbed Areva company, 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.^[6]

According to the contract signed in December 2006, 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.^[7]

As of early 2016, the first new Barracuda-class submarine, Suffren will start sea trials in spring 2017, with delivery anticipated in late 2017 and commissioning into service in 2018.

DCNS also designed a conventionally powered derivative, dubbed the SMX-Ocean, featuring fuel-cells and vertical launchers.^[8]

Another conventionnally powered design, the Shortfin Barracuda, was selected as a future replacement for the Collins-class vessels with the Royal Australian Navy.^[9]

Description

The Barracuda class nuclear reactor incorporates several improvements over that of the preceding Rubis. Notably, it extends the time between refuelling 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 12 commandos, while carrying their equipment in a mobile pod attached aft of the sail.^[2]

On 22 December 2006, the French government placed a €7.9 billion order for six Barracuda submarines with DCNS and their nuclear powerplants with Areva-Technicatome.^[10] According to the DGA “Competition at the subcontractor level will be open to foreign companies for the first time.”^[11] The first submarine will be delivered in 2016. Alain Aupetit, DCNS's Barracuda programme director, said "The gap between the delivery of boats one and two will be two-and-a-half years.... After that, we will deliver one boat every two years through to the delivery of the last submarine in 2026."

Boats

Shortfin Barracuda conventional variant

Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A

Class overview
Name:	Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A
Builders:	DCNS
Operators:	Royal Australian Navy
Preceded by:	Collins class
In commission:	Approx. 2030–2070 (planned)
Building:	0
Planned:	12
Completed:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Diesel-electric attack submarine
Displacement:	over 4,000 t submerged
Length:	97 m (318 ft)
Propulsion:	7 MW (9,400 hp) permanent magnet motor 4 diesel alternators

DCNS submitted a conventionally powered diesel-electric variation to the design – named the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A – 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 DCNS Australia.^[13] DCNS was chosen by the Australian Government on 26 April 2016 to build 12 of the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A variant at a projected AUD$50 billion. Much of the works will be undertaken at ASC Pty Ltd in Adelaide, South Australia.^[14][15]

See also

• Astute-class submarine, the latest in service with the British Navy, first launched in 2007
• Virginia-class submarine, the latest in service with the United States Navy, first launched in 2003
• Yasen-class submarine, the latest in service with the Russian Navy, first launched in 2010
• 095-class submarine, the latest for China's People's Liberation Army Navy, first launched in 2010

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Suffren class submarines.

• DCN official site
• France unveils plans for new Barracuda SSNs
• France’s Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class at Defense Industry Daily.

Current and planned SSN classes
People's Liberation Army Navy	Type 091 Type 093 Type 095
French Navy	Rubis Barracuda
Indian Navy	Akula Indian SSN
Russian Navy	Victor III Sierra I & II Akula Yasen
Royal Navy	Trafalgar Astute
United States Navy	Los Angeles Seawolf Virginia

Equipment of the French Navy
Naval Action Force	Aircraft Carriers Charles de Gaulle Frigates (1st Class) Horizon-class frigate Cassard-class frigate Aquitaine-class frigate Georges Leygues-class frigate La Fayette-class frigate Frigates (2nd Class) Floréal-class frigate Patrol Vessels P400-class patrol vessel D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso Amphibious assault Vessels Mistral-class amphibious assault ship BATRAL-class landing ship Landing Craft EDAR EDIC CDIC Minehunter Vessels Tripartite-class minehunter Tankers Durance-class tanker
Submarine Forces Strategic Oceanic Force	SSN Rubis class Barracuda class SSBN Triomphant class
Naval aviation	Fighter & Attack Rafale Patrol Breguet Atlantic Airborne Early Warning Hawkeye Transport & communications Falcon 10 Helicopters Dauphin Panther Lynx NH90