Naval Group has handed over the fourth Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine to the French Navy as part of an early 2000s program replacing the service’s Rubis-class fleet.
The vessel, named De Grasse (S638), was transferred from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin four months after sea trials.
The platform was launched in 2025 and had its nuclear boiler component inducted the same year.
According to the company, the submarine’s construction included operational feedback from the initial boats of the series, maintaining up-to-date capability in response to emerging threats.
The ship will now undergo additional trials in preparation for its admittance into service later this year.
Following the milestone, two additional vessels will be delivered to the military under the Barracuda initiative through 2030.
“Like their predecessors, the Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) are equipped with nuclear propulsion, giving them remarkable range and stealth… with new capabilities for deploying special forces and striking land targets hundreds of kilometers away using naval cruise missiles,” the French government said.
“They represent a technological leap that allows France to remain among the select group of nations operating modern and high-performance SSNs.”
The Barracuda Submarine
France’s Barracuda system, also called the Suffren-class submarine, spans 100 meters (328 feet) long, incorporates a beam of 9 meters (30 meters), and can carry up to 60 sailors.
It is fitted with a K15 nuclear reactor that has an output of about 200,000 horsepower, operating alongside twin 13,000-horsepower turbo generators, two emergency diesel generators with 640 horsepower each, and an electric pumpjet.
The vessel uses advanced sensors for communications, weapon systems support, navigation, and countermeasures, and is armed with 533mm torpedo tubes capable of launching F21 heavy-weight torpedoes, MdCN land-attack missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, FG29 subsurface mines, and D-19T unmanned underwater vehicles.
The Barracuda moves over 25 knots (29 miles/46 kilometers per hour), dives more than 350 meters (1,148 feet), and has an endurance of up to 70 days.
