Naval Group delivers third Barracuda-class submarine to French Navy

French shipbuilding company Naval Group has delivered the third Barracuda-class submarine to the French Navy.

As disclosed, the vessel Tourville is the third in a series of six new Barracuda nuclear attack submarines (SNA). It was delivered to the Directorate-General for Armaments (DGA) during a ceremony in Brest.

With the delivery of Tourville, three of the six Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines planned for the French Navy have now been handed over by Naval Group within a span of four years.

This milestone follows the earlier deliveries of the Suffren in 2020 and the Duguay-Trouin in 2023. The remaining three submarines in the program—the De Grasse, the Rubis, and the Casabianca—are currently under construction at various stages at Naval Group’s facility in Cherbourg. The De Grasse will be transferred to the launching facility in spring 2025.

The successful delivery of the 99-meter-long Tourville is the result of cooperation with Naval Group’s partners, incorporating feedback from previous deliveries such as the Suffren and Duguay-Trouin. This marks the final step before operational trials and the submarine’s admission to active service with the French Navy.

The delivery follows a four-month sea trial campaign that began on July 12. These trials came after the commissioning of the nuclear boiler room in April 2024 and extensive dockside tests, which were carried out following the submarine’s transfer to the launching facility on July 20, 2023. Earlier operations conducted in the integration hall, dry basin, and water tests allowed for the validation of key equipment and systems.

This series of six SNAs is part of the Barracuda program, managed by the DGA in collaboration with the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA) for nuclear boilers. The goal of the program is to replace the aging Rubis-class submarines currently in service with the French Navy.

Naval Group is responsible for the complete construction of this series, from the design to the construction of the submarines, the manufacturing of the primary components for the nuclear boilers (developed and built with TechnicAtome), as well as providing logistical support and maintenance for the submarines in Toulon.