France’s Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class
Related Stories: Contracts - Awards, Engines & Propulsion - Naval, Europe - France, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Submarines
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In December 2006, France’s Defence Ministry awarded a contract for nuclear-propelled fast attack submarines to state-owned warship builder DCN and nuclear energy group Areva-TA. The contract’s total value could be as high as EUR 7.9 billion, and it is set up as an initial EUR 1.0-1.4 billion contract (reports vary), followed by 6 options (tranches conditionnelles) to cover development, production and through-life support during their first years of operational service.
The companies will supply 6 SSN Barracuda submarines between 2016-2027. The latest development is a technology transfer from the International Space Station….
- Replacing the Rubis: The Barracuda Class SSN
- The Barracuda SSN Program
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
Replacing the Rubis: The Barracuda Class SSN
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The Barracuda program will meet the French Navy’s operational mission needs by providing replacements for its 6 current-generation nuclear attack submarines. Displacing 5,300 tonnes, the new Barracuda Class will be twice as large as the Rubis Amethyste Class boats they will replace; indeed, they are roughly the same size as the Royal Navy’s existing SSN Trafalgar Class boats. They fall rather short of the USA’s new 7,300t Virginia Class SSNs, however, or the slightly larger British SSN Astute Class due to enter service in 2009-2010.
Even so, the Barracuda’s four launch tubes will be able to fire its armament of up to 20 heavy weapons, in whatever combination of heavyweight torpedoes, SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles and Scalp/Storm Shadow naval cruise missiles are loaded on board. It will also be able to accommodate 12 commandos, whose equipment will be carried in a mobile pod attached aft of the sail.
A diving depth of over 350 meters (about 1,150 feet) and a top speed of over 25 knots are both forecast by DCN. The boat will also be designed for operational cruises of up to 70 days, in contrast to the 45 days of the current Rubis Amethyste Class.
Meanwhile, Barracuda’s nuclear propulsion is designed to offer 2 more substantial advantages. The first advantage is that instead of requiring refueling once every 7 years, the new design will extend its time between RCOHs (refuelling and complex overhauls) to 10 years. This translates into higher at-sea availability over the life of each ship. The USA’s Virginia Class, whose reactors aren’t forecast to need refueling over the boat’s expected 30-year life, are significantly ahead in this respect; nevertheless, the Barracuda Class propulsion will have a second advantage. It plans to use same nuclear fuel that powers French civilian nuclear power stations. Given France’s significant use of nuclear power, this commonality is expected to drive fuel costs down sharply.
The program’s total value could be as high as EUR 7.9 billion ($10.4 billion), and it is set up as an initial EUR 1.0-1.4 billion contract (reports vary), followed by 6 options (tranches conditionnelles) to cover development, production and through-life support during their first years of operational service.
The first Barracuda Class submarine is expected to enter service in 2017, with the other 4 following every two years (2019, 2021, 2023, 2025) and then the 6th and last boat due to be commissioned in 2026-2027.
Within the DCNS/Areva TA programme consortium, DCNS will act as the submarine prime contractor, including responsibilities as overall architect, platform and propulsion system prime contractor, systems integrator, nuclear safety studies coordinator and through-life support prime contractor. The Barracuda Class will be built at DCNS’ Cherbourg plant.
Areva TA will act as prime contractor for the nuclear powerplant, and NucAreva will take around 15% of the contract’s value. The nuclear propulsion unit, derived from that developed for the “Le Terrible” SSBN nuclear missile submarine, will be supplied by Areva TA under the prime contractorship of the French atomic energy commission (CEA).
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April 3/08: What does the International Space Station have in common with a nuclear submarine? Both are enclosed environments that must provide breathable air, which includes removing carbon dioxide as well as replacing used oxygen. Both also have very tight space limitations, and power limitations as well since the life support systems must be the last system to fail.
EADS Astrium in Friedrichshafen, Germany developed a binding carbon dioxide (CO2) regenerative process for the International Space Station’s European Columbus lab module, which was docked on Feb 10/08. Now DCNS in Cherbourg, France has ended a 4-year competition among established naval firms by awarding the contract to… the space firm EADS Astrium. EADS release.
Jan 25/08: GE Oil & Gas announces that their Thermodyn subsidiary in Le Creusot has been selected to provide the turbo-generators and propulsion turbines for the French Navy’s 6 new Barracuda Class nuclear fast attack submarines. The DCNS award continues Termodyn’s history if supplying such systems for France’s nuclear submarines, and for the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as well.
The contract covers 2 turbo-generators and 1 propulsion turbine for the first-of-class FNS Suffren, which is scheduled to enter service in 2016, as well as for each of the other 5 boats ordered under optional contracts. GE’s propulsion turbine drives the propeller, and supplies the required mechanical power to the submarine when at top speed. The 2 turbo-generator-rectifiers supply electric power to the propulsion and auxiliary systems, keeping the sub’s electronics powered and allowing quieter slower speed movement. GE’s project partner Jeumont Electric is supplying the generator-rectifier equipment for the turbo-generators, and this first set of turbo-generators and propulsion turbine is scheduled for delivery between October 2010 – February 2011.
As noted above, Areva TA is the prime contractor for the shipboard nuclear power plant, which powers Thermodyn’s systems and thus the submarine. A submarine’s need for stealth means that these Thermodyn condensing-type turbines are highly customized to fit a submarine’s small space, while ensuring very low noise and vibration levels. The Le Creusot facility even operates a special anechoic chamber to test the equipment’s noise levels prior to delivery. GE also will provide assistance in the packaging of its equipment within the propulsion main frame, and in site tests. GE release.
Sept 6/07: SAFRAN Group subsidiary Sagem Defense Securite has won a competitively-bid contract from DCNS as prime contractor for the surface detection system (DAS) on France’s future Barracuda class nuclear submarines. The surface detection system for Barracuda class submarines comprises a radar mast and two optronic masts, which integrate a passive electromagnetic detection sensor. The optronic sensors of the system will provide day/night surveillance, detection, tracking and sighting functions.
A value was not announced, but the contract does includes a firm order for the first submarine in the series (FNS Suffren), as well as conditional orders for following vessels. Sagem will deliver the first system to DCNS in 2010. Sagem Defense Securite release.
June 1/07: The ships of the Barracuda Class has been officially named by the French Ministry of Defence. The first-of-class will be the Suffren. It will be followed by the Duguay-Troin, Dupetit-Thouars, Duquesne, Tourville and finally the De Grasse.
Construction will begin in the summer of 2007. French Navy release [en Francais]
Dec 22/07: DCN announces the contract for the new nuclear-powered attack submarines of the Barracuda Class. See also Defence Aerospace | Associated Press
- DCN – Barracuda SSN
- Naval Technology – SSN Rubis Amethyste Class Attack Submarine, France
- France’s Marine Nationale – Sous-marins nucleaires d’attaque
- Atomic Insights (Feb 24/06) – Ask Atomic: What limits reactor fuel burnup?
