Suffren-class submarine

Suffren class
Suffren-class profile
Class overview
NameSuffren class
BuildersNaval Group
Operators French Navy
Preceded byRubis class
SubclassesOrka class
Cost€10.42 billion (2014)[1] for 6 units (about €1.73 billion per unit )
Built2007–present
In commission2020–present[2]
Planned6 (French Navy, SSN variant); 4 (Royal Netherlands Navy, SSK variant)
Building3 (French Navy)
Completed3 (French Navy)
Active2 (French Navy)
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement
  • 4,765 t surfaced
  • 5,300 t submerged
Length99.5 m (326 ft 5 in)
Beam8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
  • K15 nuclear reactor, 150 MW (200,000 hp)
  • 2 x Turbo-generator groups: 10 MW (13,000 hp) each
  • 2 x emergency diesel generators 480 kW (640 hp) each
  • 1 x pump-jet electrically driven
Speed
  • Over 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph)
  • 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph), surfaced
RangeUnlimited range
EnduranceDepends on the amount of food carried or potential crew fatigue while operational (typically 70 days worth of food is embarked)[3]
Test depth>350 m (1,150 ft)[4]
Complement
  • 12 officers
  • 48 petty officers
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Naval Group SYCOBS combat management system
  • Thales UMS-3000 hull and flank array sonar suite
  • ETBF DSUV 62C towed array sonar
  • Thales SEACLEAR mine and obstacle avoidance sonar
  • Thales VELOX-M8 broadband sonar interceptor
  • Thales NUSS-2F Mk2 navigation echo sounder
  • Safran Series 10 CSR navigation radar
  • NEMESIS electronic countermeasure system
Armament

The Suffren class is a class of nuclear attack submarines, designed by the French shipbuilder Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS and DCN) for the French Navy. It is intended to replace the Rubis-class submarines. Construction began in 2007 and the first unit was commissioned on 6 November 2020.[2] The lead boat of the class, Suffren, entered service on 3 June 2022.[7]

  1. ^ "Projet de loi de finances pour 2015 : Défense : équipement des forces" (in French). Senate of France. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "New Suffren Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine officially commissioned by French Navy". navyrecognition.com. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. ^ "France's Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class". Defense Industry Daily. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. ^ "SSN Barracuda Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Nouvelle génération de torpille lourde pour la Marine nationale : la F21" (PDF). Naval Group. October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  6. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (8 February 2015). "Exclusive Interview With The French Navy On The Barracuda SSN Program". navy-recognition.com. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  7. ^ "French Navy's 1st Suffren-class Nuclear Powered Submarine Enters Service". 3 June 2022.