Naval Group rolled out the French Navy’s fourth Suffren-class (Barracuda) nuclear attack submarine (SSN), De Grasse, during an official ceremony at its yard in Cherbourg, Normandy.
De Grasse was transferred from the construction hall to the Dispositif de Mise à l’Eau (DME) floating platform-type shiplift.
Its rollout marks a key milestone, setting the stage for sea trials expected to commence in 2026.
Naval Group CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet said in a LinkedIn post: “I would like to salute the dedication and expertise of Naval Group’s teams, those of TechnicAtome, the DGA, the CEA, the French Navy, as well as those of all our partners. Reaching this new milestone is a testament to the know-how of the French naval industry which works proudly at the service of our armed forces.”
De Grasse is one of six submarines being built by Naval Group under the Barracuda programme, which is managed by the DGA. All six new submarines are scheduled to be delivered by 2030.
The first two units, Suffren and Duguay-Trouin, entered service in June 2022 and April 2024, respectively.
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By GlobalDataIn 2024, Naval Group delivered the third Barracuda-class submarine, Tourville, to the Directorate-General for Armaments (DGA).
Tourville underwent a four-month sea trials campaign beginning on 12 July 2024 when the 99-metre-long vessel was subjected to a series of tests to assess its capabilities and performance.
Since being handed over to the Navy, Tourville has undergone a series of operational tests in preparation for its formal induction into service expected for 2025.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the Grasse submarine and the final pair of submarines, Rubis and Casabianca. These vessels are at different phases of assembly and are expected to be delivered by 2030, aligning with the timeline set out in the Military Planning Act for 2024-2030.
Equipped with nuclear propulsion, the Barracuda-class submarines offer increased range and stealth. They are designed to be faster and more versatile than previous-generation SSNs, capable of deploying special forces and launching MBDA’s Naval Cruise Missiles (MdCN) against land targets.
Each vessel has a surface displacement of 4,700 tonnes and can accommodate a crew of 65 along with commandos.
DGA said: “They represent a technological leap forward that allows France to remain in the very select club of nations deploying modern and high-performance SSNs.”
