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SNLE de troisième génération (SNLE 3G)
FMOD Futur Moyen Oceanique de Dissuasion
SNLE de la future génération

Construction of a new generation nuclear submarine has begun in France. A steel-cutting ceremony was held 24 March 2024 at the Naval Group shipyard in Cherbourg, Normandy, for the construction of a new-generation nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles of the SNLE-3G project. The company will build separate sections of the submarine, which, according to the plan, will be assembled together in 2026-2027. The launch of the first submarine is planned for the 2030s. It is planned to be included in the French fleet after 2035.

"We are proud that today, together with the DGA, the French Navy, the Atomic Energy Commission and Technicatome, as well as all our government and industrial partners, we proudly launch the construction of the hull of the first third-generation anti-ship missile," said Naval Group CEO Pierre Eric Pommelle.

The displacement of the submarine will be about 15,000 tons. The main armament will be 16 vertical launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles M51.3. Missiles of this type are equipped with 10 TNO nuclear warheads with a capacity of 100 kilotons each. Additionally, the boat will be equipped with four 533-mm torpedo tubes for launching F21 torpedoes and Exocet anti-ship missiles. It is noted that the nuclear submarines of the SNLE-3G project are designed to replace the Triomphant-type nuclear submarines with nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles in the French Navy. Three other nuclear submarines are planned to enter the French fleet by 2050. This will allow them to be used until 2090.

In France, work began on creating third-generation SSBN SNLE 3G (3rd generation SSBN) to replace the Triomphant-class strategic submarines after 15 years. In 2023 that the construction of the first of the four French nuclear submarines launchers of third generation machines (SNLE 3G) should begin. This will take place on the Naval Group site in Cherbourg, which launched its last SNLE, Le Terrible, 10 years ago. Before that, the industrialist, who has been working for several years on this major program, will be mobilized from 2020 on detailed studies of future buildings.

These are called to succeed the Triumphant, Bold, Vigilant and Terrible, respectively put into service in 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2010. The entry into the fleet of the first 3G SNLE is scheduled for the early 2030s. For the moment, there is no official view of the future French submarines. Navy Recognition had nevertheless, during a press trip preceding Euronaval, photographed at Naval Group a board presenting a sketch of the buildings, endowed with stern fins X-shaped. A sketchy drawing to be taken with caution but which suggests that 3G SNLEs could be bigger than their elders.

The Euronaval show, held at Le Bourget in October 2018, lifted the veil on the French nuclear submarine third generation submarine program ( SNLE 3G). The first official appearance of the Nuclear Submarine Thrower of the Third Generation ( SN3G ) occurred at a press conference preparatory to Euronaval 2018. Navy Recognition for the first time an image showing the future nuclear- powered ballistic submarine missile (SSBN) of the French Navy. Initiated in 2011, it remained a well kept secret. Neither model, nor artist's view, nor 3D image had previously appeared. Four units are to be built by Naval Group in Cherbourg to replace, number by number, the current nuclear submarines of the type Le Triumphant, based in the harbor of Brest. The first 3G SNLE is due to come into service by 2030. These submarines will ensure the sustainability of oceanic deterrence until 2080.

Naval Group has been working since 2017 on detailed pre-project studies with its co-contractor Technicatome. The industrialist sets the goal of "starting production in 2023 to take over, without interruption, at the end of the hull work of the sixth Barracuda ?", according to a statement made week by its CEO Hervé Guillou at La Presse. The Barracuda is the new nuclear attack submarine (SNA) currently under construction for the French Navy.

A calendar shift seems indeed to have been recorded. The date of 2020 was so far mentioned for the beginning of the implementation phase of the SNLE 3G program. Little information has yet filtered out the characteristics of the future submarine. Still, a fundamental choice has been made by President François Hollande. He revealed to Istres, in 2015, that he had launched "future adaptations of the missile M51 , to allow the tonnage of the future submarines remains very close to that of the Triomphant". In other words, France had given up developing a new missile, larger than the current M51, to renew the means of deterrence. The budget constraint is not foreign to this choice. Thus, with a size close to that of the Triomphant, the future 3G SNLEs will not require an expensive adaptation of the facilities of the Base. The technological efforts focus on acoustic discretion, stealth, underwater detection and mobility, "in order to preserve the invulnerability of the oceanic nuclear component," says the Navy. The nuclear boiler will derive from that designed for SNA Barracuda. Basically, it is the K15 reactor that already equips the current SNLE and aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle.

In February 2018 the French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded Thales a 42-month contract to conduct a set of studies and technological developments for a sonar system to be equipped on France’s future third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SNLE 3G). These developments take into account current and future threat environment and support Thales’s efforts to complete design and qualification of a large antenna system and related processing capabilities made possible by advances in algorithms and the digital revolution.

This new research and development program builds on the results of studies launched under France’s two previous defence spending plans. It will include final validation of the fourth-generation flank arrays and the development of a new sonar interceptor, with latest-generation adaptive antenna processing and threat classification algorithms as well as an innovative bow-mounted antenna concept.

The contract follows an award announced in 2016 to develop the ALRO towed linear array based on optical technology. It further consolidates Thales’s leadership in underwater systems and expands the company’s involvement in major French naval defence programs, such as the SNLE 2G second-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), Rubis and Barracuda class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SNA), FREMM multimission frigates, the ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft upgrade and the SLAM-F mine countermeasures program.

This award strengthened France’s naval defence technological and industrial base through Thales and its program partners and reflects the priorities of France’s 2017 strategic review of defence and national security, which recognizes the need for a technologically advanced underwater defence capability.

Since the accident at sea that saw two SSBNs (Triumphant and Vanguard) collide in February 2009, the two countries agreed to quietly establish some rules of prudence. It was forbidden to go in certain areas at certain moments. A means of geographical and temporal separation was set up to avoid a new accident at sea, due to the extreme quiteness of the submarines, which have not spotted before hitting by chance. In March 2010, the British newspaper The Guardian claimed that France had proposed to the United Kingdom to share their nuclear deterrent by organizing joint patrols of nuclear submarines launchers gear (SSBNs). But the Guardian went much too fast.

A Senate report in July 2012 explained that "possible options for the 2050-2060 years of the missiles should be explored before freezing the architecture of the third generation of SSBN (SSBN 3G) 2015". In December 2013, the military program law specified that it would be part "of the launch of the nuclear submarine development work third generation gear launcher and launch of the development of the future version of the missile M 51 (51.3 M)". To date, the most known vulnerabilities submarines affect their acoustic detection, which "avoids making the submarine more discreet."

The Military Planning Act, which covered the 2014-2019 period, included the continuation of studies on what used to be called the Future Middle Oceanic Deterrence (FMOD) and would give birth to third generation of SSBN (SSBN 3G). Third-generation submarines of the FMOD [future oceanic deterrent] would be launched to replace the existing submersibles. France began the next generation SSBN studies that could enter service in 2035. By 2012 Upstream Studies Programs (EAP - Programmes d'Etudes Amont) were already budgeted in the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) to fund research into the next generation of French SSBNs. Contracts had already been signed with DCNS and other specialized subcontractors in the manufacture of submarine hulls and other very specific components.

This work directed and funded by the Directorate General of Armaments gather studying architecture warship (summary and draft variants) designed to specify the design of 3G SSBN best meet the military budget and program objectives. At the same time, DCNS conducting technological studies to enable the growing maturity of innovative technologies needed to achieve ambitious performance of future French SSBNs.

The life of SSBN being no more than 40 years, so replacing French submarine is also expected to occur before 2030. The oldest of the four French SSBNs, the Triumphant, entered operational service in 1997. The last LeTerrible, this second generation was commissioned in 2010. The life of each of these vessels is estimated between 33 and 35, and the first Triumphant is expected to be retired in 2029.

France had significantly reduced its investments for deterrence, including from six to four SSBNs. All programs, endowments devoted each year to deterrence are between three and four billion euros, or 0.2% of GDP. Furthermore, cost reduction is under the control of the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), a concern and an ongoing effort for industrialists. DCNS is one of the few manufacturers in the world able to provide the design, construction, operational maintenance and the dismantling and decommissioning of systems as complex as SSBNs. The group work simultaneously on three generations of SSBNs. In parallel it is are conducting the third-generation SSBN studies. They must provide answers to two challenges, technological and industrial firstly, secondly budget. We study in particular the gains that could bring a new much more modular design.

The President of the Republic, François Hollande, confirmed 19 February 2015 at Istres that the means of nuclear deterrence would be upgraded. On the ocean component, he announced the launch of studies to prepare the replacement of existing nuclear submarine ballistic missile (SSBN) Class The Triumphant, four in number. This next-generation SSBN would be equipped M51.3 missile. This modernized version of the current M51 would enter service in the middle of the next decade. The new submarines should be close in tonnage existing submarines of the class The Triumphant.

The removal from active service of the SSBN Triumphant was expected in early 2030. The vessel would have about thirty-five years since it was launched in 1994 and be commissioned in 1997. To replace this vessel, it is necessary to start the construction of the first SSBN third generation by 2020. as a reminder, the construction of SSBNs the Triumphant began in 1986. France pledges from 2015 in a new cycle of renewal of the means of deterrence. "The international context allows no weakness," said the head of state and army, saying "the time so nuclear deterrence is not exceeded.... There is no question, including in this area, to lower our guard," he warned.

In France, deterrence nuclear (submarines and combat aircraft) costs each year over three billion euros, representing more than 20% of the defense acquisition budget. In terms of cost, deterrence in 2015 cost some 3.55 billion euros, or 11% of the overall budget of the Defence Mission and 21% of payment appropriations to the new equipment. Some believe France no longer has the financial means to maintain this level of nuclear deterrence. They claim that French conventional forces are like a rusty building inside that can collapse at any time. Nuclear programs now account for over a third of the investment budget by come calculations. Combining the proposal of the President of the Republic for the renewal of SSBNs, the improvement of nuclear warheads, and the new generation of missiles ASMPA, would necessarily exceed this one-third bar.

The third generation SSBN nuclear propulsion reactor will be derived from the second generation SSBN and SNA Barracuda reactors. However, a number of studies and tests are needed to adapt the reactor to third-generation SSBNs, which could have differences in refrigeration and heat exchange. In this area, development studies will be necessary to maintain the skills of AREVA TA, the designer of nuclear propulsion boilers.

In the case of FOSTs, given the frequency and duration of maintenance cycles, as well as the need to permit the transition to sea and to take into account some high seas, the figure of four SSBNs a minimum to be certain to have at least one vessel at sea at all times. To go from four to three SNLEs would therefore mean giving up permanence at sea and resting all oceanic deterrence on a single submarine. That would not be reasonable.

It may be possible to consider using SSBNs on a dual basis, similar to FAS squadrons, with mixed batches of ballistic missiles and naval cruise missiles. But this track has not been explored further by your rapporteurs as it seems difficult to implement given the specificity of the nuclear mission. It is true that US naval forces have converted some of their old SSBNs into cruise missile platforms, but they specifically distinguish missions and specialize their own submarines.

Florence Parly, the Armed Forces Minister, following the guidelines of the President of the Republic, decided 19 February 2021 to launch in realization of four nuclear submarines ballistic missile program 3 th generation (SSBN 3G), given the positive results of studies preparatory work carried out by the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) and the armed forces. The 2019-2025 military programming law provides that 3G SSBNs will replace the current Le Triomphant- type SSBNs as they are withdrawn from service from 2035, in order to ensure the continuity of the Force's deterrence posture. strategic oceanic (FOST), with at least one SSBN on patrol at sea at all times.

The SNLE 3G program is led by the armed forces and the General Directorate of Armaments, which is responsible for the overall project, in collaboration with the Military Applications Department of the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA / DAM) for nuclear propulsion. It is the subject of a framework agreement with industry for the development, industrialization, logistics and production of the four 3G SNLEs . Naval Group provides overall project management for the manufacture of submarines, in co-contracting with TechnicAtome for the construction of nuclear boiler rooms.

The first contract, which will be notified in 2021, covers development studies until the end of 2025, the realization of the first elements of the hull and the boiler room of the first SNLE 3G, as well as the adaptation of the industrial means of manufacture of Naval Group to the specific construction features of the SNLE 3G. The SNLE 3G program is a sovereign program, at the heart of French defense; it is a major investment by the State which will irrigate the French industrial fabric for several decades. The oceanic component of nuclear deterrence relies on nuclear missile submarines (SSBNs) that ensure the ability to inflict absolutely unacceptable damage to any state aggressor who threatens the nation's vital interests.

This mission is currently fulfilled by the four second generation SNLE (SNLE 2G) type Le Triomphant in service. The 3G SSBNs will take over from these submarines. They will respond to the evolution of the threat for the next 50 years and they will embark future versions of the M51 strategic missile.

The development and construction of 3G SNLEs will capitalize on the achievements of the 2G SNLE programs and Barracuda nuclear attack submarines (SNAs) . Their architecture will allow the continuous improvement of their operational performance. Compared to their predecessors, the 3G SSBNs will feature several important technological advances, notably with further improved acoustic discretion, better hydrodynamics, increased maneuverability and even quieter propulsion. Stealth will be increased, with new coatings. All the sensors will be at the best technological standard, in particular in underwater detection.

The SSBN remains the most complex technological object in the world. It is at the same time an on-board nuclear boiler, a rocket launching platform, a combat ship with a crew of more than 100 sailors to live underwater, in complete autonomy and in complete discretion for nearly three months. . The SSBN is a concentrate of high technology equipped with the most modern equipment in terms of detection, communication, self-defense and of course the deployment of its strategic armament, the intercontinental missile M51. The construction of SNLE 3G requires the integration of nearly 100,000 devices, as well as hundreds of kilometers of cables and circuits. Such an achievement requires a rare technological and industrial know-how that very few countries in the world have completely.

To meet these challenges in the long term, it is necessary to perpetuate a leading sovereign industrial sector in the engineering and production of high tonnage submarines and on-board nuclear heating systems. This sector of excellence benefits the entire French naval industry, whether national or export programs. Almost 90% of the added value of the SNLE 3G program will be produced in France over several decades, which represents around 3,000 direct jobs of very high qualification that cannot be relocated.