{"id":33864,"date":"2019-07-12T17:51:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T17:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/12\/france-launches-first-barracuda-class-nuclear-attack-sub\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:50:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:50:36","slug":"france-launches-first-barracuda-class-nuclear-attack-sub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/07\/12\/france-launches-first-barracuda-class-nuclear-attack-sub\/","title":{"rendered":"France launches first Barracuda-class nuclear attack sub"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHERBOURG, France \u2014 French shipbuilder Naval Group on Friday launched the Suffren nuclear-powered attack submarine here under the gaze of President Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company is expected to deliver the boat to the French Navy early next year to run sea trials during the course of 2020. Industry and government officials acknowledged a tight timeline, but they said they are confident about passing all required testing and integration work before the boat can be accepted by the sea service as operationally ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naval Group advertised the Suffren as having a high degree of stealth and for its ability to fire cruise missiles at faraway targets. The company\u2019s program manager, Vincent Martinot-Lagarde, compared the boat\u2019s acoustic signature to the \u201csound of the ocean,\u201d or to the noise made by shrimp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France wants to buy six copies of the Barracuda class, with the five future subs named Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, De Grasse, Rubis and Casabianca. All vessels are in various stages of production at Naval Group\u2019s facilities in this Normandy coastal town, executives said. The submarine class\u2019 service life is expected to end sometime in the 2060s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program clocks in at \u20ac9.1 billion, (U.S. $10.2 billion), excluding maintenance. A commitment to full funding for the entire class is reflected in the six-year military programming act covering 2019 through 2025. The fixed-price contract includes all acquisition-related costs, meaning Naval Group is on the hook for cost overruns, according to Francois Pintart, director of operations at the Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l\u2019Armement, the French military\u2019s acquisition arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about potential weak points in the program that could drive up the final price tag, Pintart said: \u201cThat\u2019s their problem, not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense News accepted travel and accommodations from Naval Group to attend the launch ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\t