France orders second Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine

The minister of defence, today announced the order for the second Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine. The Barracuda program, which calls for the delivery of six boats between 2017 and 2028, is valued at 7.9 billion euros and will provide work for several thousand people through its production phase. The French defence procurement agency, Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), today awarded to DCNS and AREVA-TA the order for the second Barracuda-class next-generation nuclear attack submarine, as planned in the umbrella contract awarded on Dec. 21, 2006. In parallel, the assembly of the lead boat, Suffren, also began on June 26 with the welding of the first two sections of its aft hull. Characterized by their low detectability and their “hunt and kill” capabilities, nuclear attack submarines are deployed on all maritime theaters of operation (Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, etc.). The Barracuda program is intended to gradually replace the six Rubis-class boats now in service with the French navy. The Barracuda will be armed with the future Artemis heavyweight torpedo, the Exocet anti-ship missile and the future naval cruise missile. They will also be able to deploy special forces and their equipment. Construction of the Barracuda submarines will generate a significant part of the workload of DCNA, AREVA-TS, Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and over 100 small and medium enterprises until 2027.