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SMX®31 Electric

SMX designs remain “concept ships”, not true submarine programs. At the EuroNaval 2018, October 23-26, the French company Naval Group presented the concept of a SMX 31 submarine with conventional drive deprived of a characteristic tower. The SMX 31 concept is characterized by a biomassetic hull shape similar to a sperm whale and is devoid of a sail (‘kiosk’ in French) or stern rudder.

SMX 31 is another vision of the future submarine presented during this year's edition of the Paris marine force exhibition. Work on it lasted only half a year, because they are based on earlier achievements of designers. However, it has nothing to do with the futuristic SMX 25 project from 2010, but it seems to be a far-advanced development of SMX 26 Cayman from 2012. Noticeable is the total abandonment of the characteristic sail, which reduces the acoustic and magnetic signature of the ship. The lack of stern rudders is also noticeable.

According to the presented concept, SMX 31 is to be 70 m long, 13.8 m wide, 13.8 m high and 3400 t displacement in draft. The drive concept assumes the use of fuel cells and accumulators based on lithium-ion technology. It has six times the storage capacity of conventional submarines and could provide the possibility of staying submerged for 40 days at a speed of 6 knots.

Noticeable is the biomtetical hull imitating sea scales in the shape of hexagons and a characteristic shape similar to the body of a sperm whale, which, according to designers from the Naval Group, have an almost perfect hydrodynamic shape. The hull can be equipped with acoustic, optical and electromagnetic sensors.

The Electric operates freely and safely in an area controlled by an adversary, potentially dangerous for surface vessels or aircraft. It can help navies gather and share valuable intelligence without ever being detected thanks to the powerful acoustic, optronic and electromagnetic sensors. It is capable of acting firmly using powerful new generation weapons. It presents several assets including extreme stealth when submerged, increased invulnerability against modern weapons, energy autonomy and endurance. Furthermore, the whole combat system and platform management system are fully integrated, benefiting from the latest developments in terms of artificial intelligence, thereby allowing the crew to focus on high added value tasks in order to conduct complex operations.

The unit's equipment may be unmanned aerial vehicles, both flying and underwater, that would leave the ship in a special buoy. The ship would carry a total of 46 combat assets, including maneuvering missiles, anti-ship missiles, heavy torpedoes and mines in vertical launchers. He could also transport two teams of commandos, including up to 15 soldiers, for whom a special dock would be adapted instead of one of the launchers for a miniature submarine.

In 2016, the design of the SMX 3.0 submarine with an estimated displacement of 3,000 t was presented, representing the so-called . Z generation. This meant that the unit can offer better electricity management, intuitive control of on-board systems, increased operational efficiency, the ability to expand the systems and their continuous modernization, in accordance with the needs of changes in the underwater environment. Universal, vertical launchers were designated for both missiles and bsl, and the hydrodynamic shape of the hull significantly reduces the calmness of the ship. The proposed drive for the unit is non-nuclear, air-independent AIP FC2G. The SMX 3.0 project, however, did not include such significant structural modifications of the hull, compared to currently operated ships, as in the case of SMX 31.

During the October 2020 Euronaval Online, Naval Group unveiled an evolution of its previous "concept submarine”, the SMX31E, an upgraded version of the SMX31. The SMX31E is the newest submarine concept from the Naval Group. It integrates the latest digital technologies for greater operational efficiency and significant use versatility. The newest submarine concept from the Naval Group, more realistic and using accurate technologies, the new SMX31E better reflects what a future submarine could be circa 2040. It integrates the latest digital technologies for greater operational efficiency and significant use versatility. More stealthy thanks to its biomimetic coverage (biomimetic), the ship also benefits from an incomparable electric energy storage capacity and a new propulsion concept.

The Naval Group seeks to build a long-term vision, consistent with the operational needs expressed by its customers, in order to invest in systems that will remain technologically superior over the 30 to 40 years of the ship's life cycle. The naval designers of the Naval Group are projected into the future. On the horizon of 2040, in a context of permanent surveillance of the oceans, navies will have to navigate in a very intricate environment. The objectives of submariners will be to operate freely, share information safely and be able to act firmly and quickly.

The SMX31E offers a more stealthy, autonomous and flexible solution. More than a smart ship, the SMX31E is a smart naval force for superiority on future underwater battlefields. The greatest invulnerability is the result of the biomimetic shape and the cover material, like a skin, making it more stealthy against active sonar emissions. Endurance is the SMX31E's other asset - it allows the crew to be submerged for months, thanks to the high energy capacities and the efficient energy management system.

Using advanced artificial intelligence technology, this submarine offers maximum connectivity to interact with the rest of the fleet on a distributed underwater network. This new IT design allows the crew to collect and process data efficiently with remote sensors, allowing them to master the underwater tactical situation. At the end of the day, the SMX 31E can monitor areas 10 times larger than today with the same efficiency. This intelligent ship always keeps the human decision on the circuit and becomes a force multiplier thanks to the integration of all types of drones, including large drones. Connected to each other, these vectors help to better control an extensive underwater battlefield.