French Navy upgrade and discussion

Naval-Group-Started-Transplanting-a-Damaged-SSN-with-a-Decomissioned-Submarine.jpg.webp

Repair yard of Perle SSN at Naval Group shipyard in Cherbourg. Naval Group image.​

(opex360, jul.06)

The nuclear attack submarine Perle [Rubis-AMETHYSTE class] is ready to resume its operational cycle​


Her bow ravaged by a violent fire while she was in drydock, in Toulon, for a period of Unavailability for maintenance and repairs [IPER], the nuclear attack submarine [SNA] Perle could have never again return to sea. However, following studies carried out by the Fleet Support Service [SSF] and Naval Group, the Ministry of the Armed Forces decided to repair it by "cannibalizing" the SNA Saphir, which had just been disarmed.​
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Thus, prepared with meticulousness thanks to digital twins, the operation consisting in replacing the bow of the Pearl by that of the Saphir was smoothly carried out by Naval Group, in Cherbourg. And this required, in total, nearly 350,000 hours of work [including 100,000 hours for the preliminary studies]… Because, in addition to the welding work, it will have been necessary to reconnect a hundred electrical cables, a sixty collectors and a multitude of hydraulic pipes.​
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Lengthened by one meter and heavier by 68 tons at the end of this "hybridization", the SNA Perle returned to Toulon in order to resume its IPER where it had been stopped by force of circumstance. And, after having experienced a new "heat stroke" without consequence [a combustion without flame detected in time, note], the submarine began its rise in power from November 2022, with dockside tests.​
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While the Chief of Staff of the French Navy [CEMM], Admiral Pierre Vandier had just assured, during a parliamentary hearing, that he would resume his operational cycle during the summer, the SNA Perle carried out its first static dive on May 22, in the harbor of Toulon. And obviously, the sea trials have since been carried out at full speed.​
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Indeed, on July 6, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced that the Pearl IPER had just ended. "A commission bringing together representatives of the Directorate General of Armaments [DGA], the Fleet Support Service [SSF], the Permanent Commission for Programs and Tests [CPPE] and the Submarine Squadron nuclear attack [ESNA] has validated the technical compliance of the building as well as its ability to navigate while diving in complete safety”, he indeed specified.​
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However, the submarine still has to pass its operational qualifications before it can go on a mission. Thus, it will notably have to launch a heavy exercise F-21 torpedo, the IPER of which it was the object having made it possible to give it this new capacity.​
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As a reminder, the F-21 displays singularly increased performance compared to the F-17 Mod 2 torpedo that it replaces. With a diameter of 533 mm for 6 meters in length and a set of two propellers, it has a range of 27 nautical miles and can reach a speed of 50 knots. Connected to the submarine by an optical fiber, it is equipped with an acoustic autoguiding system allowing it to detect and follow a target autonomously.​
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From now on, underlines the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the SNA Perle has "an operational potential until 2028". And, pending the admission to service of the Duguay-Trouin [2e de la classe Suffren, ndlr], the resumption of its operational cycle will allow the French Navy to field four SNAs, the Casabianca being on the point of to be disarmed. /deepl​

French-Navy-Submarine-Perle.jpg

Rubis-class SSN Perle during sea trials in May 2023. French Navy picture.​
 
(opex360, jul.11)

Thales promises a "technological breakthrough" for the sonar suite of French ballistic missile submarines​


In 2018, the French Defence Procurement Agency [DGA] awarded Thales a 42-month contract to conduct studies on the development of a sonar suite for 3rd generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines [SNLE 3G], taking into account "current and evolving threats". The aim was to develop 4th generation flank antennas, a new sonar interceptor, an antenna processing algorithm and an "innovative bow antenna concept".

Three years later, just as work was starting on the SNLE 3G programme, DGA and Thales signed a framework agreement for the development of a complete sonar suite incorporating a "wide range of antennas and associated processing".​
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"The technological innovations envisaged for the various sonars lead to the generation of a volume of detection information that represents a break with current systems, and involve the implementation of big data and artificial intelligence algorithms," explained Thales at the time.​
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Thales went on to explain that it would be supplying new-generation flank and bow antennas, a towed linear antenna using optical technology (ALRO, development of which began in 2016) and other components (interception, depth sounders, underwater telephones). The whole system, which was supposed to offer "unrivalled 3D detection capabilities and accuracy", was to be based on the ALICIA [Analysis, Localisation, Identification, Integrated Classification and Alerts] information processing and detection system.​
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Now it's time to move on to the next stage. A few days after the DGA gave a first glimpse of the profile that the SNLE 3G will have (stubby kiosk, diving bars probably installed in the bow, steering gear in the shape of a Saint Andrew's cross, etc.), the Thales group announced that it had just been awarded a new contract by the French Ministry of Defence, this time for the detailed design and deployment of this new-generation sonar suite on board the SNLE 3G and the current SNLE of the 'Le Triomphant' class.​
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The latter are currently equipped with a DMUX-80 hull sonar [with a minimum range of 200 km], a DSUV-61 B very low frequency towed antenna with a length of one kilometre, and a DUUG-7 sonar.​
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"The acoustic superiority of French submarines in the years to come will be based on all the breakthrough technologies that Thales has mastered. New large antenna systems, housing a very large number of sensors, will make it possible to achieve unrivalled detection capabilities with a high degree of precision," emphasised the company.​
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The value of the contract was not specified. However, it is likely to be worth between 300 and 500 million euros.​
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"This new contract testifies to the confidence placed in Thales by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for its highly strategic activity in relation to nuclear deterrence," commented Gwendoline Blandin-Roger, head of the defence electronics group's "undersea warfare systems" division. "The latest innovations, developed with passion by Thales engineers, which will benefit today's and tomorrow's SSBNs, will ensure that France has full control over the acoustic situation with regard to current and future threats, and thus maintain its status as the world's leading navy," she added.​
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As a reminder, construction of the first 3G SSBN is due to start by the end of this year, with the aim of bringing it into active service in 2035 to replace Le Triomphant. The other three will follow until 2050. /deepl​
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[edit] july21:​
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Tourville, the 3rd nuclear attack submarine of the Suffren type, has left its construction site to be transferred to the launching facility:
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First operation for the H160 of the 32F/Cherbourg detachment​

Freshly installed in Cherbourg, the 32F detachment carried out its first SAR (search and rescue) mission on Sunday 23 July.​
For this very first operational mission, the crew of the H160 was tasked by CROSS Jobourg in the early hours of the morning. The crew took off in less than 30 minutes to conduct a search at sea to the north of the Channel Islands following the disappearance of a passenger on a ship travelling between Portsmouth and Jersey. Unfortunately, the 2-hour search failed to locate the missing person.​
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This first operation confirms that the 32F/Cherbourg detachment is now operational and has fully taken over from the 33F flotilla detachment. /deepl​
 
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1685934876032106497
Long mission in the Indo-Pacific theatre?
This new photograph (cf. 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘢) would illustrate the fact that the 𝘚𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯 has probably since crossed the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in order to sail - for the 1st time? - in the Indian Ocean.
Would the 𝘚𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯 have set sail on its 1st "long mission" in the Indo-Pacific theatre? This would be an opportunity to try and explore its ability to last, conceived as increased compared to what the 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀 could offer.
The long-duration missions (cf. 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢) carried out by 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀 seem to be intended to prepare for future deployment of #SNA / #SSN class 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻 (6) whose operational characteristics (cf. 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢) open up a new dimension to the underwater weapon.
  • 𝘈𝘮𝘦́𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦: 101 days (2018)
  • 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢: 137 days (2019)
  • 𝘌́𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦: 199 days (2020-21)
  • 𝘈𝘮𝘦́𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦: 173 days (2022)

In the Indo-Pacific theatre, crew rotations were observed as part of the Marianne mission (20 September 2020 - 7 April 2021), carried out by the 𝘌́𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦, Guam (30 November 2020), and Goa as part of the Confidence mission (14 January - 6 July 2022) by 𝘈𝘮𝘦́𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦.

The operational characteristics of the #SNA / #SSN 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻 differ from those of the 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀:
  • "silent tactical speed" of 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻 of almost twice that of the 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀;
  • food (70-90 days on the 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻 compared with 45-60 for the Rubis);
  • better accommodation and living space on board 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻 compared with the 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀.

Dry Deck Shelter qualifying campaign?
Dry Deck Shelter (#DDS): designed by Naval Group as part of the Barracuda programme. It is a removable, resistant capacity that can be attached to and from the rear of the combat swimmer's lock. It measures around 11 metres in overall length, with a beam of around 3 metres, and weighs around 43 tonnes.
According to 𝘙𝘈𝘐𝘋𝘚 magazine (No. 445, August 2023, published on 21 July 2023): 𝘚𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯 began a (new?) testing (or qualification?) campaign for the #DDS, in particular to explore its influence on the boat's sailing qualities and therefore perhaps define the related operational limitations. The #ASA of the #DDS will be pronounced at the end of this campaign.
As a reminder, the 𝘚𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘯 was photographed leaving Toulon harbour on 22 June 2023, already carrying the #DDS. /deepl
 
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The French nuclear attack submarine (SNA) Suffren calls at Abu Dhabi.

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On 29 July 2023, the French nuclear attack submarine (SNA) Suffren passed through the Suez Canal as part of its first deployment in the Indian Ocean. Under the control of the commander of the French forces deployed in the Indian Ocean maritime zone (ALINDIEN), it is carrying out an operational patrol in this ocean, including two stopovers, one at the French naval base in Djibouti at the beginning of August, and the other at the naval base of the French forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU).

The Abu Dhabi naval base, where he arrived on 25 August 2023, is a strategic support point in the north-west Indian Ocean. Thanks to a well-established partnership between France and the United Arab Emirates, French forces are able to host and support all types of French Navy vessels deployed in the area in order to make an effective contribution to regional stability, reaffirming France's firm commitment to an international order based on international law and free access to common spaces. common spaces.

France regularly deploys first-rate resources to the Indo-Pacific region, such as the naval air group formed around the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier at the beginning of the year, the recent long-term deployment of the Lorraine frigate to South-East Asia and the Pegasus 2023 air projection mission carried out by the French Air Force. by the French Air Force.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1695028820275859457

Translated with DeepL
 
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Amarante said:
The French nuclear attack submarine (SNA) Suffren calls at Abu Dhabi.

F4XztyEWwAE0cP7

F4XztOSWAAA2eVK

On 29 July 2023, the French nuclear attack submarine (SNA) Suffren passed through the Suez Canal as part of its first deployment in the Indian Ocean. Under the control of the commander of the French forces deployed in the Indian Ocean maritime zone (ALINDIEN), it is carrying out an operational patrol in this ocean, including two stopovers, one at the French naval base in Djibouti at the beginning of August, and the other at the naval base of the French forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU).

The Abu Dhabi naval base, where he arrived on 25 August 2023, is a strategic support point in the north-west Indian Ocean. Thanks to a well-established partnership between France and the United Arab Emirates, French forces are able to host and support all types of French Navy vessels deployed in the area in order to make an effective contribution to regional stability, reaffirming France's firm commitment to an international order based on international law and free access to common spaces. common spaces.

France regularly deploys first-rate resources to the Indo-Pacific region, such as the naval air group formed around the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier at the beginning of the year, the recent long-term deployment of the Lorraine frigate to South-East Asia and the Pegasus 2023 air projection mission carried out by the French Air Force. by the French Air Force.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1695028820275859457

Translated with DeepL
Click to expand...
https://twitter.com/x/status/1695417034685718886
 
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