French Barracuda-class submarine

For other ships with the same name, see 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:

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 occuring 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.

A conventionally powered derivative, initially dubbed the SMX-Ocean, now known as the Shortfin Barracuda,[8] 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

Pennant no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport
Suffren 19 December 2007 Expected in 2017 Expected in Dec 2017[1] Toulon
Duguay-Trouin 26 June 2009 Expected end 2020[1] Toulon
Tourville 28 June 2011 Expected in 2022[1] Toulon
Dupetit-Thouars[12] Expected in 2025 Toulon
Duquesne[12] Expected in 2027 Toulon
De Grasse[12] Expected in 2029 Toulon

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:
  • 4,500 t surfaced
  • 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 in Adelaide, South Australia.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Projet de loi de finances pour 2014 : Défense : équipement des forces et excellence technologique des industries de défense" (in French). Senate of France. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  2. 1 2 "France’s Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class". Defense Industry Daily. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Nouvelle génération de torpille lourde pour la Marine nationale : la F21" (PDF). DCNS. October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (8 February 2015). "Exclusive Interview With The French Navy On The Barracuda SSN Program". navy-recognition.com. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "SNLE-NG Le Triomphant". netmarine.net. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 Preston, Antony (1 October 2002). "France unveils plans for new barracuda SSNs". Sea Power. Retrieved 18 May 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ "Les noms des futurs sous-marins nucléaires français dévoilés". Mer et Marine. 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  8. ↑ "SMX® Ocean Conventionally Powered Attack Submarine, France". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Scott, Jason; Whitley, Angus. "France's DCNS Wins $39 Billion Australian Submarine Contract". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "France orders six 'Barracuda' class nuclear-driven submarines". Agence France Presse. 2006-12-22.
  11. ↑ Navy League of the United States - Citizens in Support of the Sea Services Archived December 20, 2005, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. 1 2 3 "Programme Barracuda : mer en vue pour le Suffren" (in French). Ministry of Defence of France. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  13. ↑ "DCNS unveils Shortfin Barracuda" (Press release). DCNS. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "France wins $50b contract to help build Australia's new submarines" (Press release). Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Starick, Paul (2016-04-26). "$50bn Future Submarines to be built at Osborne in Adelaide by French firm DCNS". The Advertiser. Retrieved 26 April 2016.

External links

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