Suffren (Barracuda) class submarine
The Suffren-class (also known as Barracuda-class) is the next-generation SNA (Sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque - Nuclear Attack Submarine). Much like their predecessors, Barracuda-class SNA would have an anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare role, with the ability to launch cruise-missiles. They would primarily be tasked with ensuring the safety of the Strategic Oceanic Force, conducting carrier group escorts and power-projection.
The Suffren-class submarines are a series of modern nuclear attack submarines developed by French companies for the French Navy. The Suffren was one of the stealthiest submarines in the world. The Suffren-class submarines are classified by NATO as Barracuda. Submarines of this type are designed to destroy surface ships and strike enemy ground targets. A total of six Suffren-class submarines were ordered.
It was a key means of submarine control operations with significant operational capability. Among these, one can insist on a discretion almost 10 times greater than that of the Rubis-class submarines, the possibility of carrying a removable bridge hangar for the deployment of special forces and the ability to fire from Naval cruises missiles, with a range of 1000 km against land targets.
Missions include mastery of air-maritime spaces, for the benefit of nuclear submarines launchers (SNLE) or an air force (aircraft carriers). Thee boats would provide discreet collection of intelligence, especially in coastal areas, and land objectives far from the coast (precision strike in depth). The submarines can support projection of special forces (implementation of combat swimmers with all their equipment)
The purposes of the submarine are:
- To counter surface and underwater combat against enemy submarines;
- To conduct a land attack using long-range cruise missiles;
- The submarine was capable of conducting surveillance and collecting intelligence in hot spots of armed conflict;
- The submarine was designed to control conflict situations, the submarine can conduct special secret operations.
The nuclear submarine was a key element of the naval command of the FOST (Force Océanique Stratégique) of France's strategic nuclear forces.
More than just a renewal of the Rubis- type SNAs put into service in the 1980s, Suffren- type SNAs enable the French Navy to move upmarket. To the traditional missions of the SNA (support for deterrence, discreet collection of intelligence, escort of importan surface vessels ...), the BARRACUDA program allows to add two new functions: striking accurately in the depth via the naval cruise missile; deploy combat swimmers via a removable bridge shed. In addition, Suffren SNAs was able to navigate farther, faster, longer and more discreetly.
The shell of the submarine would always be black and it would remain cylindrical because the laws of physics are immutable. But for all those who know at least the secrets of underwater operations, no doubt, this type of ANS would make the difference. The current first-generation ANSs, which arm the French fleet, were designed in the 1970s. Beyond their replacement because of planned expiry, it was a question of answering the missions in the successive white papers as well as possible. To best defend its national interests, France must project its forces ever further. However, this new generation SNA would be able to go further, longer and faster. This improvement of the SNA component was based on three pillars of excellence that the builders had developed in conjunction with the Navy, the Directorate General of Armament and the Atomic Energy Commission.
Hidden from his opponents, the SNA type Suffren would be much more discreet than his "elder". It would benefit from the latest advances developed, particularly for the nuclear launching submarines (SNLE) of the Le Triomphant type. New techniques would avoid any radiation of noises, a hybrid propulsion system, ingenious marriage between steam turbines and electric motors, would allow to have several optimal speed ranges. In operations, this new SNA can deploy and "chase" at high speeds while remaining silent. At the same time, its listening and classification capabilities would be optimized thanks to new acoustic detection antennas, adapted to an optimized combat system.
The autonomy of the submarine was a sine qua non for the success of missions. An increased capacity for storing food was one of many. It would allow the Suffren SNA crew to live in complete autarky for long operational periods (70 to 90 days as opposed to 45 to 60 days aboard SNA Rubis ). In addition, the redundancy of vital installations had been increased compared to that of its predecessor. This quality, essential for underwater navigation, allows, in case of damage to a part of a system (propulsion system, electrical plant, combat or navigation system, ...), to have alternative solutions to last at sea. Good redundancy was the key capacity to combine operational permanence and safety.
On the other hand, it was excluded that modernity was accompanied by fragility. The focus was therefore on the robustness of sensors and equipment. This had also allowed the traditionally quarterly maintenance periods to be grouped into a single annual technical stop. The goal for the ANS was to remain operational on a continuous basis in remote deployment areas regardless of conditions.
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