The French Navy's first FDI frigate, the Amiral Ronarc'h, made her maiden voyage on 7 October off Lorient. Scheduled for delivery in 2025.
French Navy upgrade and discussion
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The French Navy's first FDI frigate, the Amiral Ronarc'h, made her maiden voyage on 7 October off Lorient. Scheduled for delivery in 2025.
France’s Radical-Looking New Frigate Has Gone To Sea
The first of France’s Defense and Intervention Frigates is a new-generation multi-mission warship that features an inverted bow. The first of France’s Defense and Intervention Frigates is a new-generation multi-mission warship that features an inverted bow.
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Welcome on board Sir
Duguay-Trouin: aboard the new French nuclear attack submarine
oct.11/2024Vincent Groizeleau, journalist from the newspaper Mer&Marine reported aboard the Duguay-Trouin, the second of the six new Barracuda//Suffren nuclear attack submarines (SNA) of the French Navy. The boat was admitted to active service on April 4. It joins the Suffren, operational since June 2022.
Introduction
Released in November 2021 from the Naval Group site in Cherbourg, the boat, after the end of its arming phase and the first divergence of its nuclear boiler room, made its first sea trip in March 2023, with the aim of carrying out a static dive in front of the Cotentin port. Then, after a technical stop in April, the vessel made its first dynamic dives in May, joining the Atlantic Ocean where most of the tests were carried out. It was in Brest, on July 28, 2023, that it was officially delivered to the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), the latter then handing it over to the French Navy.Then the Duguay-Trouin joined Toulon in August (2023), where all French SSNs are based. Starting with the lead ship of the Barracuda program, the Suffren, delivered in November 2020 and admitted to active service on June 1, 2022, as well as the last three Rubis-type units still operational, the Émeraude (1988), the Améthyste (1992) and the Perle (1993). The three other submarines of this type, the Rubis (1983-2022), the Saphir (1984-2019) and the Casabianca (1987-2023) have already been decommissioned.
First long deployment in the Atlantic and verification of the Caribbean support point
The new French SSN then continued its program of verification of its military capabilities (VCM), which ended last March after a first long-term deployment. The latter began at the end of January, with the Duguay-Trouin leaving the Mediterranean to move again to the West, in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and then in the warmer waters of the Caribbean, with a first stopover for a vessel of this type in Fort-de-France, Martinique, from March 3 to 9. This has allowed the French Navy to show that it can, if necessary, deploy SSNs in this region and, in doing so, validate the Caribbean port's ability to serve as a support point for its new-generation submarines. As could be the case in Réunion and New Caledonia, or even in Tahiti in French Polynesia if it were ever necessary to deploy SSNs in the heart of the Pacific. Outside the overseas territories, French naval bases abroad, in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi, also fulfill this role. Logistical and technical support is also provided by the four metropolitan support and assistance vessels (BSAM) [a BSAM can be seen in the background of the photograph in my previous post], designed to accompany SSNs in their distant deployments, and, if necessary, by their overseas cousins, the BSAOMs, as well as the new force supply vessels (BRF).
The BSAM Garonne with the SSN Suffren
BRF Jacques Chevalier with aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Testing the vessel and its equipment in different environments
After its stopover in Martinique, the Duguay-Trouin crossed the Atlantic Ocean at high speed to reach Brest at the end of March. “The objective was to test the vessel and its equipment in cold and warm waters, particularly at its maximum speed over significant periods and in different environments. This was to ensure that it met the specifications in terms of its technical and operational performance,” explains to Mer&Marine Frigate Captain Jean-Baptiste Grossin, commander of the Duguay-Trouin’s Blue crew [Each ship of the French Navy has two crews: blue and red]. A battery of tests that the vessel successfully passed. “All the responses were satisfactory,” says the pasha. The proof: two weeks after its return to mainland France, the SNA was admitted to active service. And on April 18, it carried out its first full weapon firing by launching a naval cruise missile (MdCN) off the DGA test center in Biscarosse, at the same time as another MdCN firing carried out by the multi-mission frigate (FREMM) Aquitaine on the same target. On this occasion, the French Navy conducted for the first time a simultaneous double firing with this weapon, capable of neutralizing land targets a thousand kilometers away. A very valuable capability that the French fleet did not have before the FREMM and the Suffren-class SSNs.Only one year between the start of sea trials and Admission to Active Service
The development of the Duguay-Trouin was therefore rapid, since only one year elapsed between the start of sea trials and admission to active service (ASA), which the French Navy even hoped to see take place at the end of 2023, but the schedule dictated otherwise. This is nevertheless a performance, obtained thanks to the consideration of the feedback acquired with the lead ship of the program, the Suffren, which like all the prototypes has had its fair share of problems. "You have to see the speed and responsiveness of the entire community, particularly Naval Group, to take into account the feedback. The improvements made to the Suffren came directly to us. The manufacturers were very responsive, that's a real point of satisfaction," emphasizes the commander of the Duguay-Trouin.Operating in very hot or very cold waters
The second phase of the VCM, with this first deployment of several months, was therefore mainly aimed at demonstrating the endurance of the boat, particularly in cold waters since the Suffren, during its first deployments in the Indian Ocean, allowed the systems to be tested in hot waters. Why is this so important? "We constantly use seawater as a thermostat, for the refrigeration systems, which provide the air conditioning, but also the demineralized fresh water that we produce for the needs of the nuclear boiler room," explains Commander Pierre-Gauthier, second in command of the Duguay-Trouin's blue crew. The water intended for the reactor, which is not in contact with the nuclear core, is used as for a land-based power plant to cool the installations. However, depending on the areas and seasons, the water temperature, which also determines the calculation of the submarine's weight, varies greatly. Off the coast of Brittany, it is generally 10 to 12 degrees, while in the Mediterranean it rises to between 13 and 18 degrees and in the Indian Ocean up to 30-31 degrees. And in the North Atlantic, it drops to 2 or 3 degrees, which is what the Duguay-Trouin and its crew went to look for last winter. "The goal is to stress all of our circuits and our reverse osmosis systems. The installations are designed to operate with very cold or very hot water, but it had to be verified in real conditions. That's what we did, successfully. It works remarkably well and even better than we imagined."Crossing the Atlantic at full speed
At the same time, the vessel also passed its endurance test by crossing the Atlantic at full speed, i.e. at more than 20 knots. A speed that also depends on the water temperature since the energy that turns the shaft line comes from a turbine supplied with steam by the boiler room. However, the physical efficiency of the machine depends on the temperature of the steam entering the turbine and that leaving it, knowing that the difference in temperature of the seawater entering the circuit influences its heating and therefore the pressure of the steam generated. This is why sailors say that the vessel can sail at more than 20 knots, which is a certainty. As for knowing how many more knots, exactly, the SNA is capable of giving, “reality itself is not precise,” [
] smiles the second in command of the Duguay-Trouin. /deeplto be continued…
part.2
The Bravo section then houses the "electric vertical", with all the main electricity distribution panels and in the depths one of the two battery banks of the building (the other is at the front), while the Charly section is that of the nuclear boiler room. Designed by TechnicAtome, it produces steam which turns two Thermodyn-Jeumont turbo-alternators generating electricity stored in the form of energy in the batteries, which then power two electric propulsion motors supplied by Exail (ex-ECA). These MEPs drive via a reducer the shaft line at the end of which is the "pump-propeller", a shrouded propeller specially designed to reduce the effects of cavitation, these air bubbles created by mixing the water which are a major source of acoustic indiscretion. The submarine therefore benefits from electric propulsion, in particular for tactical speeds, which makes it very quiet. But its propulsion architecture is hybrid, with another mode for evolving at the highest speeds. "In this case, it is a mechanical drive, we have a third turbine that is directly connected to the reducer and the shaft line," says the commander. In this case, the vessel is obviously less discreet. But the challenge is not so much, then, to be silent as to be able to reach a remote area at high speed.
"We have also worked on rigorous waste management in order to carry out longer missions. The submarine has crushing and compacting systems that allow us to store more and for longer, which is one of the factors that contribute to our endurance at sea," notes CF Grossin. And it is still possible, during long-term deployments, to refuel in a port or via a support vessel, which can also provide spare parts and weapons. This is the case with the BSAM, but also the new force supply vessels (BRF), with tests in this regard having been conducted in Toulon last June with the Jacques Chevallier. It should be noted that the Duguay-Trouin still has two emergency diesel engines, which would provide electrical energy in the event of a reactor failure. They are also capable of serving as fans to purify and renew the air on board in the event of an incident causing the release of toxic fumes, for example a fire or a rupture in the refrigeration fluid network.
It should be noted that every 2 to 3 metres in the passageways, there is an air intake on the ceiling. This allows sailors, if the atmosphere on board is polluted due to damage, to be able to plug in using a portable system and thus be able to breathe. Directly above the sockets, on the floor, the location is elsewhere indicated by a small rectangular plate with slightly curved elements. This allows sailors, even without light or if the passageway is completely filled with smoke, to know, just by touching the ground with their foot, where the air intake is above them.
to be continued…
Increased acoustic discretion thanks to a larger size than the Rubis
(…) At the new dock of the Brest naval base specially designed to accommodate the Suffren-class SSNs, where we found it, the Duguay-Trouin is imposing. "I didn't think it was that big," sighs an officer, used to the Rubis and who is discovering the beast for the first time. It must be said that the new French submarines are significantly larger than their elders. While the Rubis measure 73.6 meters long by 6.4 meters in diameter and have a displacement of 2,670 tons when submerged, their successors have a length of almost 100 meters, a diameter of almost 9 meters and a displacement of more than 5,000 tons under the surface of the water. "It is almost twice as big as the first-generation SSNs. This larger size allows for a lot of things, including gains in terms of acoustic discretion," explains Commander Pierre. An essential aspect for a submarine, whose efficiency and survivability depend precisely on this factor. The vessel must in fact be as quiet as possible to avoid being detected by an adversary, this discretion also improving the performance of its own listening means and therefore its ability to detect an enemy. "The indiscretions come in particular from the machines that vibrate and must not be in communication with the thick hull to prevent these vibrations from radiating outwards and being detected. To do this, the machines are placed on pads that absorb the vibrations, the pads being fixed to a frame that is itself decoupled from the hull". Rotating machines, pumps, auxiliaries... everything that can make noise is isolated from the decks and bulkheads, via these elastic pads, a second "barrier" being obtained from the fact that the equipment itself is integrated on suspended cradles isolated from the hull.Legacy of the Le Triomphant SSBNs
This architecture comes directly from the four Le Triomphant-class ballistic missile submarines (SNLEs), commissioned between 1997 and 2010 and which marked a major advance for the French fleet in terms of acoustic discretion. "It takes up a considerable amount of space, hence the increase in the size of the Suffren to allow them to have the highest standards in terms of acoustic discretion. But we are not as big as the Triomphants (the French SNLEs measure 138 meters long by 12.5 meters in diameter and have a displacement of more than 14,000 tons when submerged, editor's note). However, there have been technological improvements over the past 25 years, for example on elastomer pads and new absorbent materials." Improvements that make it possible to obtain equivalent results, or very close ones, by optimizing space.The propulsion system
The Duguay-Trouin has three decks (from 1 to 3 from bottom to top) and five sections (Alfa, Bravo, Charly, Delta and Echo from rear to front), separated by bulkheads and watertight doors. The Alfa section houses the MAM (Motor Engine Module) with in particular three turbines, two electric propulsion motors (MEP), the shaft line and the steering gear mechanisms, consisting of four “X” shaped bars. The latter allow for greater maneuverability, particularly at very low speeds, compared to the traditional “+” stern rudders. Unlike previous French submarines, the diving bars are no longer on the bulkhead but integrated into the forward third and foldable into the hull, so as not to impact the submarine’s hydrodynamics when it is submerged. This is also a guarantee of discretion.The Bravo section then houses the "electric vertical", with all the main electricity distribution panels and in the depths one of the two battery banks of the building (the other is at the front), while the Charly section is that of the nuclear boiler room. Designed by TechnicAtome, it produces steam which turns two Thermodyn-Jeumont turbo-alternators generating electricity stored in the form of energy in the batteries, which then power two electric propulsion motors supplied by Exail (ex-ECA). These MEPs drive via a reducer the shaft line at the end of which is the "pump-propeller", a shrouded propeller specially designed to reduce the effects of cavitation, these air bubbles created by mixing the water which are a major source of acoustic indiscretion. The submarine therefore benefits from electric propulsion, in particular for tactical speeds, which makes it very quiet. But its propulsion architecture is hybrid, with another mode for evolving at the highest speeds. "In this case, it is a mechanical drive, we have a third turbine that is directly connected to the reducer and the shaft line," says the commander. In this case, the vessel is obviously less discreet. But the challenge is not so much, then, to be silent as to be able to reach a remote area at high speed.
Considerable autonomy
This is also one of the major advantages of nuclear propulsion, which offers unlimited energy during the ten years of the reactor's potential (which will be recharged during the first major technical shutdown of the vessel, from 2033). Thus, the SSN can remain submerged without needing to return to the surface to seek air in order to recharge its batteries by running diesel generators, which constitutes a significant phase of vulnerability for a conventionally powered submarine. In addition, this is another major advantage, the SSN can navigate without speed constraints, whereas a conventional vessel must save its energy and quickly drains its batteries if it has to force the pace. The autonomy of the SSN is conditioned only by the supply of food. Here it reaches approximately 70 days, compared to 45 for the Rubis, the gain being obtained by a larger size allowing a larger quantity of food and water to be stored."We have also worked on rigorous waste management in order to carry out longer missions. The submarine has crushing and compacting systems that allow us to store more and for longer, which is one of the factors that contribute to our endurance at sea," notes CF Grossin. And it is still possible, during long-term deployments, to refuel in a port or via a support vessel, which can also provide spare parts and weapons. This is the case with the BSAM, but also the new force supply vessels (BRF), with tests in this regard having been conducted in Toulon last June with the Jacques Chevallier. It should be noted that the Duguay-Trouin still has two emergency diesel engines, which would provide electrical energy in the event of a reactor failure. They are also capable of serving as fans to purify and renew the air on board in the event of an incident causing the release of toxic fumes, for example a fire or a rupture in the refrigeration fluid network.
Atmosphere management
Air management on board is also a crucial factor and is based on a complex system. "We must be autonomous underwater and produce our own air to breathe. For this, we have an atmosphere management plant. The principle is to recover oxygen molecules from seawater and release hydrogen. Once produced, the oxygen passes through fans that send it throughout the building." At the same time, the ambient air must be purified, which, with human breathing, becomes loaded with carbon dioxide. But there is also the freon released by the cooling systems and traces of hydrogen. "For this, we have a pollutant elimination plant. It is another circuit, which sucks in stale air and releases it outside via nozzles, with a system designed to limit the acoustic effects of these releases as much as possible."It should be noted that every 2 to 3 metres in the passageways, there is an air intake on the ceiling. This allows sailors, if the atmosphere on board is polluted due to damage, to be able to plug in using a portable system and thus be able to breathe. Directly above the sockets, on the floor, the location is elsewhere indicated by a small rectangular plate with slightly curved elements. This allows sailors, even without light or if the passageway is completely filled with smoke, to know, just by touching the ground with their foot, where the air intake is above them.
Optimized maintenance
After the rear area, made up of the Alfa, Bravo and Charlie sections, where the sailors only go for rounds and when necessary, comes the forward area, the one that is "inhabited". Like all French submarines, the Duguay-Trouin has two crews, named Bleu and Rouge, who take turns on board approximately every three months, with a short technical stop of a few weeks between this changeover. Provided by Naval Group, the operational maintenance (MCO) of the Suffren is in fact different from that of the Rubis, with slightly more regular but shorter maintenance periods, making it possible to increase the ships' availability at sea (the objective being more than 270 days per year). Major technical shutdowns (ATM), also called for submarines "IPER" (periodic unavailability for maintenance and repairs), long periods of immobilization during which the fuel elements of the boiler room will be renewed and the SNA will undergo their main modernizations and technical interventions, will now only occur every 10 years. And there will no longer be, as with the Rubis, a major intermediate technical shutdown between two ATMs. "Apart from the ATMs, we are now only on an annual maintenance period of around 10 weeks, with ultimately more availability compared to the Rubis", underlines Commander Grossin. The MCO is therefore optimized, based on technical progress and the digitalization of systems, which allow, thanks to numerous sensors, to monitor equipment as closely as possible and to be able to carry out preventive and predictive maintenance. (…)to be continued…
part.3
At the PCNO, we provide sonar monitoring, electronic warfare, navigation, tactical situation and weapons deployment, all managed by a combat management system developed by Naval Group and from the same family as that available to the SNLEs after their recent overhaul. Functions that all consoles can offer, which allows for significant redundancy and, if necessary, to reinforce one area or another. The PCNO is obviously permanently armed, the number of sailors working there depending on the situation. "We operate in shifts in standby mode, with six 4-hour shifts per day provided by three teams. When we are in standby mode, there are two reinforced teams instead of three and, at the combat station, it is the most qualified man who is at each station, all consoles being used".
to be continued…
A crew reinforced to around 70 sailors
Thanks to the automation of many systems, the crew is less than 70 sailors, less than the Rubis even though the new SSNs are twice as big as their predecessors. Originally, the Suffren armament plan was based on a nominal crew of 61 sailors, to which must be added two analysts, the famous "golden ears" made available by the Acoustic Interpretation and Reconnaissance Center (CIRA) for the duration of the missions. That is 63 submariners in all, with the possibility of taking women on board, as is the case for the Duguay-Trouin's Red crew which has a mixed crew. This, while the new French SSNs have a maximum sleeping capacity of nearly 80 people, with 70 "fixed" bunks in a dozen positions. Added to this are around ten removable beds that can be installed on the weapons handling system, for example when the ship accommodates commandos. "In reality, there are more than 63 of us on board, in particular to meet training needs. We need to train the submariners who will serve on the next SSNs of this type. In particular, we have served to build up the pool of personnel for the Tourville and now we also have future crew members for the De Grasse." And then, in a context of a potential return to high-intensity conflicts, it appeared necessary, as for the new generation frigates where the high automation of the systems had made it possible to reduce the crews, to slightly increase the workforce to avoid personnel fatigue. Thus, the Suffren will gain half a dozen sailors. "Originally, the armament plan was reduced following discussions on the contribution of automation but there was an awareness of the limits of this concept. Despite technological progress, humans remain essential and today we have a different approach, we think mainly in terms of high intensity and resilience which requires us to imagine degraded operation and long periods where personnel are at the combat station. To last over time, we need more thickness, that is to say an increased crew".
New capabilities for special operations
The forward zone begins with the Delta section, which houses in particular the Central Navigation Operations Station (PCNO), the nerve center of the vessel. Just before reaching this compartment is the combat swimmers' room. With an imposing sphere lined with circuits and gauges in its center. Very thick, to withstand the pressure, this "bell" can accommodate several equipped combat swimmers and opens via an airlock to the outside of the submarine. Or gives access to a deck hangar, the DDS (Dry Deck Shelter), one of the major new features of the Suffren class SSNs. This removable module, approximately 11 metres long and 3 metres wide, installed behind the massif, was designed to house the equipment of the marine commandos, starting with the new third-generation underwater thruster (PSM3G), which can transport around ten combat swimmers discreetly and over long distances. Thanks to the DDS, the Suffren offer much greater capabilities in terms of special operations than the Rubis, where the commandos had to go through the torpedo tubes, for example. This airlock is also intended to be used for evacuating the crew in the event that the submarine is in distress, lying on the bottom. If the depth is not too great, the sailors have suits and can extract themselves directly, but beyond 100 metres, an external means is required to rescue them. This is the role of the NSRS (Nato Submarine Rescue System) developed by France, Norway and the United Kingdom as part of a NATO programme. The system, implemented from a support vessel, includes a mini-submarine over 8 metres long, the SRV, which docks at the airlock of the boat in distress and can evacuate up to 15 people per trip. Capable of operating at depths of up to 610 metres, this system was successfully tested on the Duguay-Trouin, submerged in Toulon harbour, in May. It should be noted that another panel allowing evacuation is located at the front of the submarine.The PCNO, the submarine's nerve centre
The next room is the PCNO, from where the sailors manage the navigation and operations. This space has about ten multifunction consoles allowing operators to manage the various systems of the vessel, including the propulsion system, sensors and armament. In addition, there is a digital table on which the tactical situation around the submarine or more broadly, which is established from the information collected by the vessel and that exchanged with other units, appears. Everything here is very modern, but in the submarine, we like nothing more than redundancy. "The navigation part is done entirely with digital tools and it works well, but we keep a collection of paper charts in case we should find ourselves in a degraded environment".At the PCNO, we provide sonar monitoring, electronic warfare, navigation, tactical situation and weapons deployment, all managed by a combat management system developed by Naval Group and from the same family as that available to the SNLEs after their recent overhaul. Functions that all consoles can offer, which allows for significant redundancy and, if necessary, to reinforce one area or another. The PCNO is obviously permanently armed, the number of sailors working there depending on the situation. "We operate in shifts in standby mode, with six 4-hour shifts per day provided by three teams. When we are in standby mode, there are two reinforced teams instead of three and, at the combat station, it is the most qualified man who is at each station, all consoles being used".
Positioning yourself precisely underwater
In terms of navigation, knowing where you are precisely is essential for a submarine, not only for its safety, but also for the effectiveness of certain weapons, such as the MdCN [naval cruise missile], the use of which is based on geographic coordinates from its launch to its target. However, periscope immersion ascents must be limited because they constitute periods of vulnerability, whereas when diving, to be discreet, it is necessary not to produce active sonar emissions in order not to be spotted. Sailors therefore rely on nautical charts produced by the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (Shom). This is in order to know not only the topography of the seabed and, thus, to know for example how many meters they have under the keel or facing what reliefs they are, but also the geological nature of these beds. This is essential data because, depending on whether it is sedimentary or rocky ground for example, the detection capabilities of sonars, particularly adversary ones, are not the same. To reposition its position when submerged for long periods, the Duguay-Trouin has extremely precise inertial navigation systems, in this case systems from Safran's SIGMA 40 XP family, which provide a reliable and precise position for days without external data. If necessary, if the vessel remains for a long time without returning to periscope immersion to correct its drift, there is redundancy allowing the SNA to reposition itself underwater. For example, as shown in the film The Wolf's Call, by scanning the seabed to locate itself using maps.
High-performance sonars
In addition to the MOAS [mine & obstacle avoidance sonar], the Duguay-Trouin is equipped with a sonar suite that allows it to know its environment and detect its adversaries. It consists of a large cylindrical sonar integrated under a composite dome at the front (under the torpedo tubes), large flank antennas that follow the shape of the hull and integrate numerous sensors, as well as a towed linear antenna, which is clipped to the stern each time it sets off on a mission and recovered when the submarine returns to port (an antenna repositioning device can be installed later). All these systems, supplied by Thales, are digital, with the data being directly transmitted to a central computer which, after processing, returns it in the form of usable information (video and audio) on the operators' consoles at the PCNO. The digital equipment, which replaces the old analog systems, provides significantly increased performance thanks to a larger data flow and superior processing capacities. These new antennas, their size and the capacity of the processing system to be able to combine the data from the different acoustic sensors to return the information sought to the operators, offer much greater capacities to detect sounds, determine their bearing and measure their distance, then their heading and speed with geometric constructions established automatically on the basis of the data collected. Nevertheless, despite technological progress, the human ear remains essential and, like their elders, the new French SNA still rely on CIRA analysts. From the data and sounds collected, these personnel are specially trained to identify the vessels detected by the sonars, each surface vessel or submarine having its own acoustic signature. (…)to be continued…
Left: Rubis, right: Suffren class.
Red: periscopes; blue: radars; purple: ESM/ESW; green: comms; yellow: snorkel. Credits: RW Stirn.
part.4
Surface and air surveillance
On the PCNO consoles, surface and air surveillance is also carried out. This is not only with sonars, which can even, depending on the depth, “hear” the passage of an airplane or helicopter, but also with sensors carried by the masts deployed at periscope immersion, when the vessel is close to the surface. The Duguay-Trouin has three types of masts, all supplied by Safran, including two optronic masts that replace the traditional optical periscopes. There is an optronic surveillance mast (MOV), with an HDTV camera, a thermal camera, a light intensification camera and a backup camera. This MOV, intended for surface and air surveillance, offers 360-degree panoramic surveillance thanks to its cameras with a very high rotation speed. The vessel is also equipped with an optronic attack mast (MOA), intended for target processing. Also equipped with different cameras, it is much thinner than the MOV, with a diameter of less than fifteen centimeters only, in order to limit surface drag as much as possible and therefore its visual and radar detection.RESM (Radar Electronic Support Measure) electronic warfare means are also integrated into the heads of the MOV and the MOA. They make it possible to monitor the "electromagnetic environment", by capturing radar emissions whose signature makes it possible to determine what type of surface vessel or aircraft (for example a maritime patrol aircraft, which constitutes one of the main dangers for submarines) is evolving in the area, or even its exact identity. This, like acoustic signatures, is thanks to a database constantly enriched via the electronic warfare means available to the various French military units. For a submarine navigating at periscope immersion, this information is essential because it provides intelligence but also valuable advance notice to the vessel, which can quickly react and dive to the depths if it detects a threat. And these new optronic masts do not need to be deployed for long. To minimize the risk of being spotted (a maritime patrol aircraft or an anti-submarine warfare helicopter are equipped with radars capable of detecting a periscope), an MOV can for example be very briefly emerged and make a single turn before being lowered, the images and information collected being processed a posteriori. This is one of the major advantages of optronics compared to the old optical periscope.
In addition to the MOV and the MOA, the Duguay-Trouin is also equipped with a radar mast, used mainly for navigation safety when the vessel is operating on the surface or at periscope depth, particularly in areas with high maritime traffic. It is not normally intended to be used in combat situations, except in specific cases.
Masts that do not penetrate the hull
These masts have the particularity of not being penetrating, which is a first in French submarines. Gone are the days of the commander physically rotating the hydraulic periscope on its axis to observe the environment above the surface alone. From now on, the images are transmitted in real time to the consoles or the tactical table of the PCNO and can therefore be viewed easily and by several people. "The optronics are of high quality, it is a real advance and we do things that were not possible with optics. The fact of no longer having penetrating masts has also made it possible to decenter the PCNO in relation to the mass and, thus, to optimize the spaces. The PCNO has a larger volume and it is not segregated into two parts, as was the case before, due to the presence of the periscope in the middle", explains Commander Grossin.Means of communication
Apart from the masts, the building's mass also houses a fresh air tube and, above all, most of its means of communication, which are also deployed outside in periscopic immersion. Including a multifunction antenna monitoring all frequencies and the Syracuse satellite communication system. In addition, when submerged, the building deploys a wire communication antenna (retractable) which allows it to receive orders even if it is deeply submerged. A fairly old system but benefiting from new technologies with a wider frequency range and a greater flow rate.The PC Propulsion near the PCNO
The Central Propulsion Station (PCP) is also located in the Delta section, dedicated to managing the nuclear boiler room, energy production and propulsion. Traditionally located at the rear of the submarine, near the reactor compartment, this PCP has, on the Suffren, been set up under the PCNO, on deck 2. "It is there that the reactor, the propulsion system and the electrical plant are monitored and operated". Thanks to numerous automatons and an integrated platform management system, the whole is controlled by a reduced staff. "There are two operators and a watch leader here permanently, as well as two patrollers near the premises. At least once per shift (i.e. every four hours, editor's note), the patrollers go to each installation on the boat, which are therefore seen six times a day. They visually check and monitor the premises and equipment, but also the parameters and instrumentation".Crew quarters: improved living conditions
Back on deck 3, after the PCNO, come the crew quarters. "Unlike the Rubis, all the rooms are on the same deck and, with the exception of the commander, who is alone, and the second in command who lives with the deputy commander, all the others, from the sailor to the junior officer, are installed in six-person rooms", explains frigate captain Grossin. Rather well-appointed and modern positions although necessarily narrow because on a submarine, even a large one, space is limited. There are also no individual toilets for each room, as on some surface units. Showers and toilets are collective. And the hunt for noise goes that far. Thus, the toilets, the "poulaines" as they are historically called in submarines, are vacuum systems designed to be discreet. They overlook a tank that is only emptied when conditions allow, because this waste is evacuated from the submarine by an air flush that could constitute an acoustic indiscretion. This is why the volume of the poulaines has been increased in order to reduce the number of flushes as much as possible during the mission.Apart from the rooms, the living quarters include the wards, where the sailors eat, rest and work. "We have three wards, one for the officers, a cafeteria for the crew and, which is new compared to the Rubis, a ward for the senior petty officers. This was a wish in order to break with promiscuity". This, while the number of petty officers is greater on the new generation SSNs, more "technical" than their predecessors. For meals, these wards are served by a single kitchen, very well equipped and supplied by a large galley. A crucial point because meals are "little moments of pleasure and relaxation for the crew. We need it because these moments are not numerous. Meals and the quality of the food served are therefore important to keep morale up." So we always eat well on board submarines? "Yes, we eat well on board, especially since our cook has some very appreciated secret weapons!" Overall, emphasizes the pasha of the Duguay-Trouin, "the living conditions are better than on the Rubis." Even if, to an outsider, it all seems quite Spartan. It must be said that despite their size, which is clearly larger than that of the Rubis, the Suffren are packed to the gills, as they carry so many electrical and electronic systems and cabinets. Which also explains the ambient temperature. "It is quite cool, around 19°C, whereas on the Rubis we are more like 25 to 30°C. This is done on purpose because we have a lot of powerful electronics on board these new SNAs, which require maintaining a fairly low temperature and, for this, we have powerful refrigeration and air conditioning systems." An atmosphere that is in any case ideal for doing a bit of sport, the sailors of the Duguay-Trouin having found a way, despite the limited space available on board, to use an empty space to install a rowing machine, in order to be able to do a bit of exercise and let off steam during missions.
The Duguay-Trouin, which must be completely autonomous, is also equipped with an infirmary. "It is a real room dedicated to the infirmary that was designed from the start for this function. We always have a nurse on board and, depending on the configuration of the missions, especially when we are deployed far away and the support points are limited or non-existent, we also take on board a doctor capable of performing surgery on board." (…) /deepl
to be continued…
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fifth and last part.
A crane places them on this inclined ramp, which allows them to slide to the SAT, equipped with an ingenious weapons handling system designed by the Naval Group site in Ruelle, in Charente. It comprises two modular sets of cradles, housed on each side of a central passage, facing the torpedo tubes. An automated device that allows the cradles to be moved between them to bring the desired weapon so that it can be loaded. Presented on a slide, it is then introduced into the tube. Unlike other navies, whose submarines fire weapons directly from the tubes, in France, the propulsion of torpedoes and missiles is only activated after exit, each tube being equipped with a pneumatic rammer that pushes the weapon out and gives it an initial impulse.
In total, the Duguay-Trouin can carry 20 weapons, excluding tubes, which is significantly more than the Rubis (14 in all). As mentioned above, this is also where the submarine can accommodate additional people, in addition to the beds it has in the stations of its living area. It is no longer a question, as in the past, of sleeping directly on the cradles in place of a torpedo. Despite everything, the modern solution, although optimized in terms of space, is not much more comfortable. Now, we use "modules" made of thin metal walls that are installed perpendicular to the cradles. They form a kind of individual boxes, about 2 meters long, in which a person can sleep and store their bundle. The space is narrow to say the least, but as one officer notes, the personnel called to stay there are not supposed to sleep there for long periods. Obviously, the use of these additional beds results in the neutralization of locations intended for weapons, four cradles can be used for this function, i.e. as many fewer torpedoes and missiles.
The MdCN is ejected from the submarine in a powered capsule which releases the missile once it reaches the surface.
The weapons compartment
That day, the passageway leading to the infirmary is cluttered with a ramp, which starts from a panel open to the outside, above our heads, to the level below, deck 2, where the compartment housing torpedoes and missiles is located at the front of the submarine, called the tactical weapons bay (SAT). This is the removable system used to load torpedoes and missiles.
A crane places them on this inclined ramp, which allows them to slide to the SAT, equipped with an ingenious weapons handling system designed by the Naval Group site in Ruelle, in Charente. It comprises two modular sets of cradles, housed on each side of a central passage, facing the torpedo tubes. An automated device that allows the cradles to be moved between them to bring the desired weapon so that it can be loaded. Presented on a slide, it is then introduced into the tube. Unlike other navies, whose submarines fire weapons directly from the tubes, in France, the propulsion of torpedoes and missiles is only activated after exit, each tube being equipped with a pneumatic rammer that pushes the weapon out and gives it an initial impulse.
In total, the Duguay-Trouin can carry 20 weapons, excluding tubes, which is significantly more than the Rubis (14 in all). As mentioned above, this is also where the submarine can accommodate additional people, in addition to the beds it has in the stations of its living area. It is no longer a question, as in the past, of sleeping directly on the cradles in place of a torpedo. Despite everything, the modern solution, although optimized in terms of space, is not much more comfortable. Now, we use "modules" made of thin metal walls that are installed perpendicular to the cradles. They form a kind of individual boxes, about 2 meters long, in which a person can sleep and store their bundle. The space is narrow to say the least, but as one officer notes, the personnel called to stay there are not supposed to sleep there for long periods. Obviously, the use of these additional beds results in the neutralization of locations intended for weapons, four cradles can be used for this function, i.e. as many fewer torpedoes and missiles.
The new operational F21 heavy torpedo
The cradles, as well as the four tubes with a standard diameter of 533 mm and a length of about 7 meters, are capable of accommodating three types of weapons. The first is the new F21 heavy torpedo from Naval Group, which entered service with the Suffren and now equips all French submarines, replacing the old F17 Mod2, whose final firing was carried out last January by the Améthyste, one of the last Rubis-class SSNs. "This new torpedo offers greater autonomy, with improved acoustic detection performance. It is also faster and deeper. It remains wire-guided like the F17, meaning that an operator in the submarine directs it all the way, but it also has a more developed intelligence of its own," explains Commander Grossin. Although the development of this new-generation weapon was complex and took longer than initially planned, "today, we are satisfied with it," confirms the officer, who assures us: If the F21 had not been operational, the Navy would have waited and kept the F17." Six meters long and weighing 1.3 tons, the F21 is a heavy torpedo designed for combat on the high seas and in coastal areas. Capable of reaching 50 knots, it can dive to more than 500 meters while being able to operate in depths of less than 10 meters. The torpedo, connected to the submarine by an optical fiber, is equipped with an acoustic self-guidance system allowing it to follow its target (surface vessel or submarine) autonomously, for example in the event of a break in the guidance wire. It is also designed to thwart enemy countermeasures. The F21 is distinguished by its long autonomy (approximately 1 hour) thanks to thermal batteries with silver oxide and aluminum which produce very high energy that can be optimized. It can thus approach its target discreetly before having maximum power for the attack phase.
The MdCN is ejected from the submarine in a powered capsule which releases the missile once it reaches the surface.
A new land strike capability with the MdCN
The new French SSNs can also implement the new naval cruise missile (MdCN), developed by MBDA. It was put into service in the French Navy in 2015 aboard the multi-mission frigates (FREMM) and, for the first time on a submarine, with the Suffren, which entered service in June 2022. "This missile is designed to strike land targets with significant penetration capabilities. Combined with the submarine's discreet approach capability and long range, it is a formidable weapon." A perfect tandem for conducting surprise strikes or posing a threat to a potential adversary. 6.5 meters long and weighing 1.4 tons, the MdCN is encapsulated in an underwater vehicle which, after launch, will take it to the surface. It then extracts itself from this casing, ignites its booster and deploys its wings. Autonomous, the missile, which integrates the geographical position of its target before firing, flies towards its objective thanks to a navigation and guidance system combining several sensors (inertial, radio altimeter, satellite receiver). In the final phase, the homing system recognizes the target, which is struck with metric precision. The range of the MdCN is approximately 1000 km, which offers the French Navy a very valuable deep strike capability, like the Americans with the Tomahawk.The Exocet anti-ship missile still in position
Finally, the Suffren have a third weapon, the venerable SM39 anti-ship missile from MBDA, put into service in 1985. This is the medium-change version of the famous Exocet. Here too, the missile is housed in a capsule the size of a torpedo, which takes it to the surface. At 4.7 metres long, the SM39, equipped with a radar homing system and a warhead optimised for anti-ship warfare, offers a range of around fifty kilometres. Like the versions of the Exocet fired from surface vessels (MM40) and aircraft (AM39), this missile has benefited from modernisations since its entry into service, the current standard being the SM39 Block2 Mod2. "It is an old missile but its evolution continues, we are putting a lot of energy into it". MBDA is indeed working to extend this weapon beyond 2030 with a new generation of the Exocet fired from submarines. With these weapons, the composition of which (number and/or types of torpedoes and missiles) changes according to the theatres of operation, the Duguay-Trouin can therefore respond to a very broad spectrum of missions, ranging from anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare to long-range strikes against land targets, not to mention its intelligence and support capabilities for special operations. In addition, it offers a better capacity for integration into the carrier battle group thanks to new information and communication systems (CIS), as demonstrated by the Suffren when it was deployed with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the Antarès mission, during the winter of 2022/2023."We have clearly changed range"
On board the new SSN of the French Navy, we clearly appreciate the evolution compared to the old generation submarines. Frigate Captain Pierre, who was still serving on Rubis last year, measures the difference, particularly in the management of the installations: "In terms of technology, we are rather on small SSBNs, with the operational capabilities of an SSN. We have clearly changed range, particularly in terms of acoustic discretion, where there is a real gap compared to the Rubis, and in terms of digitalization and instrumentation. For example for the adjustment of the weighing or the atmosphere with the production of oxygen and the elimination of CO2 and pollutants. Everything is controlled in real time thanks to sensors installed on the equipment that generate indicators and curves automatically, whereas on the Rubis we still take a lot of measurements manually." Thanks to the digitalization of systems, connectivity has also developed considerably, which makes life and work easier for sailors, but also requires very robust cybersecurity procedures. This involves systems with native and scalable security measures against computer attacks, segregated networks or the presence, within the crew, of an expert technician who spends his time monitoring the various systems and the secure implementation of certain actions, such as preventive maintenance operations.Significantly increased operational capabilities
On the operational level, the Duguay-Trouin's second in command believes that the Suffren represent "a continuity with the Rubis, which are certainly 40 years old but have been modernized very regularly, particularly in terms of sonars, the bases and processing systems of which have been digitized. Some systems are also the same as the latest generations on board the Rubis, but since we are larger, the antennas have larger dimensions and therefore a greater detection range and finesse, which allow us to detect traces that did not emerge from the background noise on our old SSNs." The same goes for the entire vessel, which benefits in addition to its larger size, from numerous technological advances to be more efficient, more durable, quieter and more powerful. "And we also have two new capabilities, with the MdCN which allows us to strike land targets at long range, and the implementation of combat swimmers, with the DDS in particular. An area where, if we can say, we have moved from craftsmanship to the industrial era."Remaining credible in the face of strategic competitors
Commander Grossin, who joined the French submarine forces in 2011, agrees: "There are significant gains in terms of operational performance compared to the Rubis. We are doing better but without having had any big surprises because we had seen a lot of new equipment arrive on the old SNAs, which made it possible to de-risk what we integrated on the Suffren". With this program, launched in 2006, France has attack submarines at the best level in the world. A necessity in view of the international context, marked not only by an increase in crises throughout the world, but which also sees, as in the time of the Cold War, large blocs opposing each other with, in the background, the specter of a return to high-intensity combat. "This context has deteriorated considerably in recent years and we must remain credible in this confrontation with our strategic competitors". Starting with Russia: "Russian submarine activity has increased in density for some time. It is a navy which, by heritage and tradition, has real know-how in this area and, like us, they are in a process of renewal. It was therefore time for us to respond, which the Suffren allow".Six new SSNs by 2030
After the Suffren and the Duguay-Trouin, it will soon be the Tourville's turn to join the French SSN squadron. The vessel, which left the Cotentin peninsula at the end of August to begin its deep-water trials, is due to be delivered to the French Navy by Naval Group at the end of the year. The De Grasse will follow, normally in 2026, with construction being completed with a view to leaving its Cherbourg-built ship next year. And the series will be completed by the new Rubis and Casabianca, which are expected to enter the fleet in 2028 and 2030. They will therefore replace the Rubis, of which there will soon be only two operational examples left, the Amethyst and the Pearl, and the Emerald, which has just said goodbye to Toulon, will soon, with the arrival of the Tourville, join Cherbourg to be decommissioned there.The Suffren community becomes the majority within ESNA
2024 also marks a milestone for ESNA in the renewal of its resources and in terms of human resources. "This year, the squadron is experiencing a shift between the Rubis and their successors since we will have, for the first time, more Suffren crews. This symbolises the rise of the programme and the rapid change, now, of generation. This evolution, which required years of preparation and training, is now palpable. On the Suffren, the crews came from varied backgrounds, from SNLEs and SNAs of the Rubis type, who trained on the ENSM/BPN simulators (School of Submarine Navigation and Nuclear-Propelled Ships, editor's note) and spent a lot of time in Cherbourg to learn to work together and get to know these new ships with the manufacturers. On the Duguay-Trouin, more than half of the crew had previously embarked on the Suffren, the others having benefited from this experience. Our senior certificates, for example, served as young sailors on the Suffren. Starting with the Tourville, we draw on a crew for disarming the Rubis. These sailors go through the ENSM/BPN but they only stay six months in Cherbourg because we know our new submarines better and better and, with two boats available, and soon three, we have more and more experienced personnel. The transition is therefore taking place quickly now, which not only makes it easier to get to grips with the new Suffrens, but also makes the most of the potential of these vessels served by sailors who are increasingly experienced in these new-generation machines. /END
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SO basing on this what I understood is that the Suffren Class has Electric Motors for upto Medium Speeds only and for high speeds it need to rely on Steam Turbine is it? This would make it more noisier than complete Electric Propulsion.fifth and last part.
The weapons compartment
That day, the passageway leading to the infirmary is cluttered with a ramp, which starts from a panel open to the outside, above our heads, to the level below, deck 2, where the compartment housing torpedoes and missiles is located at the front of the submarine, called the tactical weapons bay (SAT). This is the removable system used to load torpedoes and missiles.
A crane places them on this inclined ramp, which allows them to slide to the SAT, equipped with an ingenious weapons handling system designed by the Naval Group site in Ruelle, in Charente. It comprises two modular sets of cradles, housed on each side of a central passage, facing the torpedo tubes. An automated device that allows the cradles to be moved between them to bring the desired weapon so that it can be loaded. Presented on a slide, it is then introduced into the tube. Unlike other navies, whose submarines fire weapons directly from the tubes, in France, the propulsion of torpedoes and missiles is only activated after exit, each tube being equipped with a pneumatic rammer that pushes the weapon out and gives it an initial impulse.
In total, the Duguay-Trouin can carry 20 weapons, excluding tubes, which is significantly more than the Rubis (14 in all). As mentioned above, this is also where the submarine can accommodate additional people, in addition to the beds it has in the stations of its living area. It is no longer a question, as in the past, of sleeping directly on the cradles in place of a torpedo. Despite everything, the modern solution, although optimized in terms of space, is not much more comfortable. Now, we use "modules" made of thin metal walls that are installed perpendicular to the cradles. They form a kind of individual boxes, about 2 meters long, in which a person can sleep and store their bundle. The space is narrow to say the least, but as one officer notes, the personnel called to stay there are not supposed to sleep there for long periods. Obviously, the use of these additional beds results in the neutralization of locations intended for weapons, four cradles can be used for this function, i.e. as many fewer torpedoes and missiles.
The new operational F21 heavy torpedo
The cradles, as well as the four tubes with a standard diameter of 533 mm and a length of about 7 meters, are capable of accommodating three types of weapons. The first is the new F21 heavy torpedo from Naval Group, which entered service with the Suffren and now equips all French submarines, replacing the old F17 Mod2, whose final firing was carried out last January by the Améthyste, one of the last Rubis-class SSNs. "This new torpedo offers greater autonomy, with improved acoustic detection performance. It is also faster and deeper. It remains wire-guided like the F17, meaning that an operator in the submarine directs it all the way, but it also has a more developed intelligence of its own," explains Commander Grossin. Although the development of this new-generation weapon was complex and took longer than initially planned, "today, we are satisfied with it," confirms the officer, who assures us: If the F21 had not been operational, the Navy would have waited and kept the F17." Six meters long and weighing 1.3 tons, the F21 is a heavy torpedo designed for combat on the high seas and in coastal areas. Capable of reaching 50 knots, it can dive to more than 500 meters while being able to operate in depths of less than 10 meters. The torpedo, connected to the submarine by an optical fiber, is equipped with an acoustic self-guidance system allowing it to follow its target (surface vessel or submarine) autonomously, for example in the event of a break in the guidance wire. It is also designed to thwart enemy countermeasures. The F21 is distinguished by its long autonomy (approximately 1 hour) thanks to thermal batteries with silver oxide and aluminum which produce very high energy that can be optimized. It can thus approach its target discreetly before having maximum power for the attack phase.
The MdCN is ejected from the submarine in a powered capsule which releases the missile once it reaches the surface.
A new land strike capability with the MdCN
The new French SSNs can also implement the new naval cruise missile (MdCN), developed by MBDA. It was put into service in the French Navy in 2015 aboard the multi-mission frigates (FREMM) and, for the first time on a submarine, with the Suffren, which entered service in June 2022. "This missile is designed to strike land targets with significant penetration capabilities. Combined with the submarine's discreet approach capability and long range, it is a formidable weapon." A perfect tandem for conducting surprise strikes or posing a threat to a potential adversary. 6.5 meters long and weighing 1.4 tons, the MdCN is encapsulated in an underwater vehicle which, after launch, will take it to the surface. It then extracts itself from this casing, ignites its booster and deploys its wings. Autonomous, the missile, which integrates the geographical position of its target before firing, flies towards its objective thanks to a navigation and guidance system combining several sensors (inertial, radio altimeter, satellite receiver). In the final phase, the homing system recognizes the target, which is struck with metric precision. The range of the MdCN is approximately 1000 km, which offers the French Navy a very valuable deep strike capability, like the Americans with the Tomahawk.
The Exocet anti-ship missile still in position
Finally, the Suffren have a third weapon, the venerable SM39 anti-ship missile from MBDA, put into service in 1985. This is the medium-change version of the famous Exocet. Here too, the missile is housed in a capsule the size of a torpedo, which takes it to the surface. At 4.7 metres long, the SM39, equipped with a radar homing system and a warhead optimised for anti-ship warfare, offers a range of around fifty kilometres. Like the versions of the Exocet fired from surface vessels (MM40) and aircraft (AM39), this missile has benefited from modernisations since its entry into service, the current standard being the SM39 Block2 Mod2. "It is an old missile but its evolution continues, we are putting a lot of energy into it". MBDA is indeed working to extend this weapon beyond 2030 with a new generation of the Exocet fired from submarines. With these weapons, the composition of which (number and/or types of torpedoes and missiles) changes according to the theatres of operation, the Duguay-Trouin can therefore respond to a very broad spectrum of missions, ranging from anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare to long-range strikes against land targets, not to mention its intelligence and support capabilities for special operations. In addition, it offers a better capacity for integration into the carrier battle group thanks to new information and communication systems (CIS), as demonstrated by the Suffren when it was deployed with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the Antarès mission, during the winter of 2022/2023.
"We have clearly changed range"
On board the new SSN of the French Navy, we clearly appreciate the evolution compared to the old generation submarines. Frigate Captain Pierre, who was still serving on Rubis last year, measures the difference, particularly in the management of the installations: "In terms of technology, we are rather on small SSBNs, with the operational capabilities of an SSN. We have clearly changed range, particularly in terms of acoustic discretion, where there is a real gap compared to the Rubis, and in terms of digitalization and instrumentation. For example for the adjustment of the weighing or the atmosphere with the production of oxygen and the elimination of CO2 and pollutants. Everything is controlled in real time thanks to sensors installed on the equipment that generate indicators and curves automatically, whereas on the Rubis we still take a lot of measurements manually." Thanks to the digitalization of systems, connectivity has also developed considerably, which makes life and work easier for sailors, but also requires very robust cybersecurity procedures. This involves systems with native and scalable security measures against computer attacks, segregated networks or the presence, within the crew, of an expert technician who spends his time monitoring the various systems and the secure implementation of certain actions, such as preventive maintenance operations.
Significantly increased operational capabilities
On the operational level, the Duguay-Trouin's second in command believes that the Suffren represent "a continuity with the Rubis, which are certainly 40 years old but have been modernized very regularly, particularly in terms of sonars, the bases and processing systems of which have been digitized. Some systems are also the same as the latest generations on board the Rubis, but since we are larger, the antennas have larger dimensions and therefore a greater detection range and finesse, which allow us to detect traces that did not emerge from the background noise on our old SSNs." The same goes for the entire vessel, which benefits in addition to its larger size, from numerous technological advances to be more efficient, more durable, quieter and more powerful. "And we also have two new capabilities, with the MdCN which allows us to strike land targets at long range, and the implementation of combat swimmers, with the DDS in particular. An area where, if we can say, we have moved from craftsmanship to the industrial era."
Remaining credible in the face of strategic competitors
Commander Grossin, who joined the French submarine forces in 2011, agrees: "There are significant gains in terms of operational performance compared to the Rubis. We are doing better but without having had any big surprises because we had seen a lot of new equipment arrive on the old SNAs, which made it possible to de-risk what we integrated on the Suffren". With this program, launched in 2006, France has attack submarines at the best level in the world. A necessity in view of the international context, marked not only by an increase in crises throughout the world, but which also sees, as in the time of the Cold War, large blocs opposing each other with, in the background, the specter of a return to high-intensity combat. "This context has deteriorated considerably in recent years and we must remain credible in this confrontation with our strategic competitors". Starting with Russia: "Russian submarine activity has increased in density for some time. It is a navy which, by heritage and tradition, has real know-how in this area and, like us, they are in a process of renewal. It was therefore time for us to respond, which the Suffren allow".
Six new SSNs by 2030
After the Suffren and the Duguay-Trouin, it will soon be the Tourville's turn to join the French SSN squadron. The vessel, which left the Cotentin peninsula at the end of August to begin its deep-water trials, is due to be delivered to the French Navy by Naval Group at the end of the year. The De Grasse will follow, normally in 2026, with construction being completed with a view to leaving its Cherbourg-built ship next year. And the series will be completed by the new Rubis and Casabianca, which are expected to enter the fleet in 2028 and 2030. They will therefore replace the Rubis, of which there will soon be only two operational examples left, the Amethyst and the Pearl, and the Emerald, which has just said goodbye to Toulon, will soon, with the arrival of the Tourville, join Cherbourg to be decommissioned there.
The Suffren community becomes the majority within ESNA
2024 also marks a milestone for ESNA in the renewal of its resources and in terms of human resources. "This year, the squadron is experiencing a shift between the Rubis and their successors since we will have, for the first time, more Suffren crews. This symbolises the rise of the programme and the rapid change, now, of generation. This evolution, which required years of preparation and training, is now palpable. On the Suffren, the crews came from varied backgrounds, from SNLEs and SNAs of the Rubis type, who trained on the ENSM/BPN simulators (School of Submarine Navigation and Nuclear-Propelled Ships, editor's note) and spent a lot of time in Cherbourg to learn to work together and get to know these new ships with the manufacturers. On the Duguay-Trouin, more than half of the crew had previously embarked on the Suffren, the others having benefited from this experience. Our senior certificates, for example, served as young sailors on the Suffren. Starting with the Tourville, we draw on a crew for disarming the Rubis. These sailors go through the ENSM/BPN but they only stay six months in Cherbourg because we know our new submarines better and better and, with two boats available, and soon three, we have more and more experienced personnel. The transition is therefore taking place quickly now, which not only makes it easier to get to grips with the new Suffrens, but also makes the most of the potential of these vessels served by sailors who are increasingly experienced in these new-generation machines. /END
Finally, what is the maximum speed of Suffren Class? Can it do like 30 knots ? What about 35 knots? I couldn't help but question since it rather has 2 Smaller Motors.
What is the rationale of that dual motor setup instead of one single large motor? Aren't those gears gonna increase the noise ?
French German Railgun Reaches Hypersonic Speeds A New Era of Defense
French German Railgun Reaches Hypersonic Speeds A New Era of Defense.
armyrecognition.com
Assuming the sabot armature moves with the projectile until the muzzle at the same speed, a total mass of 5.6kg (3.9 + 1.7) accelerated to 3,000m/s gives an energy of 25.2MJ.
This suggests 8kg moving at 2,500m/s, which gives the same energy.
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A new sub lauch anti ship missile is on the drawing board : SM40
120km range expected.
With a secondary sea to groud role.
An intermediate missile, waiting for the anglo french supersonic missile.
www.opex360.com
120km range expected.
With a secondary sea to groud role.
An intermediate missile, waiting for the anglo french supersonic missile.
MBDA dévoile le SM40, un nouveau missile antinavire aux performances accrues pour les sous-marins - Zone Militaire
Depuis les années 1980, les sous-marins nucléaires de la Marine nationale, qu'ils soient d'attaque ou lanceurs d'engins , sont dotés de missiles
www.opex360.com
French, UK naval chiefs urge dramatic changes in warship design
“If you stay with your old doctrine, you will be dead very rapidly,” said French Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Nicolas Vaujour.
www.defensenews.com
MBDA reveals Anglo-French future cruise/anti-ship missile stealth and wind tunnel testing - Breaking Defense
Over the last 12 months, weapon assessment phase activities have included a first TP15 ultra Low Observable [LO] subsonic prototype missile undergoing “extreme” RF trials, and wind tunnel propulsion system testing of a RJ10 supersonic variant.
Euronaval 2024 - MBDA details its deep strike current and future capabilities - EDR Magazine
At Euronaval 2024 MBDA exhibited its available systems, as well as its future developments in the deep strike field.
www.edrmagazine.eu
Euronaval 2024: Airbus Unveils VSR700 Naval Helicopter Drone with Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities
Euronaval 2024: Airbus Unveils VSR700 Naval Helicopter Drone with Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities
armyrecognition.com
MBDA and Fly-R from France Enter Kamikaze Drone Market with RD-120 Raijin Loitering Munition
MBDA and Fly-R from France Enter Kamikaze Drone Market with RD-120 Raijin Loitering Munition
armyrecognition.com