After three years of upstream studies, France is renewing its fleet of nuclear-powered 3rd generation missile-launching submarines (SNLE 3G).
Florence Parly is kicking off the program by awarding a first five-year design contract to Naval Group and Technic Atom, co-prime contractors for the boats.
The announcement was made during a visit by the Minister of the Armed Forces to the "technical and hydrodynamic" test center of the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA), contracting authority for SNLE 3G, in Val-de- Reuil.
Sixty years after the establishment of the Nuclear Deterrent Force in February 1960, desired by General de Gaulle, and 53 years after the entry into service of the first French SSBN, of the Redoutable class, in 1967, France is perpetuating, with this program, the oceanic component of the nuclear deterrent force.
France's life insurance
After the 6 SSBNs of the Redoutable class and the 4 SSBNs of the Triomphant class, 4 SSBNs 3G will take over from 2035, crisscrossing the seas and oceans discreetly in order to guarantee the ability to strike second - in plain language in the event of an attack - from France, by order of the President of the Republic.
"
The SNLE is the life insurance of France
", summarizes the cabinet of Florence Parly.
By 2023, and before the launch of the final design phase, Naval Group will perform the first sheet metal cutting of the very first example of the SNLE 3G.
Then will begin the integration phase of more than a million components, equipment and systems and the laying of hundreds of KMS cables in the heart of ships, which "
have the most complex technological objects in the world
", emphasizes the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
16 ballistic missiles on board
These 3G SSBNs of absolute discretion, equipped with communication and detection technologies to the highest standards and with improved autonomy, compared to current boats, will be in service for half a century, until 2090. Longer - 140 meters, or 12 more than the Triomphants - and more imposing - 15,000 tonnes underwater - than the 2G SNLEs, they will carry around 100 sailors, including female personnel.
And they will be designed to carry 16 ballistic missiles, M-51s that will be improved over the years.
For the next five years, Naval Group and Technic Atom will focus on “refining the technical specifications of 3G SSBNs”.
At the end of this phase, "
we will have a clearer vision of the overall cost of the program
", specifies the Hôtel de Brienne.
This cost is however "classified", adds the same source.
France devotes an average of 12.5% of its military investment budget (equipment, support and payroll) to deterrence.
3000 people involved in the program
For Naval Group, an extraordinary site is opening.
The European leader in military naval vessels will build a 3G SSBN every five years, a rate that will mitigate technological risks and preserve skills until the launch of their successors.
To build these four submarines, 8 Naval Group sites will be mobilized as well as 200 partner companies spread throughout the territory.
“
More than 15 million hours of work are needed to design the SNLE 3G and more than 20 million to build a copy, ie 3,000 full-time employees
,” says Naval Group.
In the meantime, we still have to find a nom de guerre for them.
French sailors are already thinking about it ...