French Barracuda-class submarine

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For other ships with the same name, see Barracuda-class submarine.
Barracuda class
Barracuda-Suffren.svg
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: 2007-
In commission: 2017- (planned)
Building: 2
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
  • One 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 2017.

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 was to jointly act 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]

The first boat was to commence sea trials in 2011 for an entry into service in 2012.[6]

However the List of active French Navy ships, updated as of July 2015, states that the first new Barracuda-class submarine, Suffren will be launched in 2016 for sea trials, with anticipated commissioning into service in 2017.

A conventionally powered derivative, dubbed the SMX-Ocean, has been proposed.[7]

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, Barracuda's 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.[8] According to the DGA “Competition at the subcontractor level will be open to foreign companies for the first time.”[9] 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[10] Expected in 2025 Toulon
Duquesne[10] Expected in 2027 Toulon
De Grasse[10] Expected in 2029 Toulon

Projected variants

DCNS will propose a conventionally powered version – named the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A – as its pre-concept design for 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.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Navy League of the United States - Citizens in Support of the Sea Services[dead link]
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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