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Submarine Proliferation

France Current Capabilities

Capabilities | Import | Export

The French submarine fleet consists of nuclear-propelled attack (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). France decommissioned its last Agosta-class diesel-electric boat in 1999 without plans to replace the class with modernized diesel-electric vessels. This is despite France’s pioneering role in the development of air independent propulsion technology.[1]

There are six nuclear-powered Rubis/Améthyste-class attack boats on active duty, currently based at Toulon. However, the class is to be gradually decommissioned and replaced with the newly developed Barracuda-class attack submarines, the first of which, Suffren, was ordered in December 2006 and is due to enter service in 2017.[2] The attack boats' main task is the protection of France's SSBN force and carrier group via anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. In addition to traditional sea control and sea denial operations, its attack submarines are tasked with special forces deployment, surveillance and intelligence gathering, as well as missions against piracy, narcotics, and human trafficking.[2,3,4]

France's four SSBNs consist of three active Le Triomphant-class submarines and one additional vessel that is currently undergoing sea trials. The fleet of SSBNs is based at Ile Longue, Brest. Since 1991, all six units from France's former SSBN fleet, Le Redoutable, have been progressively decommissioned, with the final vessel, L'Inflexible, completing its last deployment in 2007. [2] While plans originally called for the procurement of six Le Triomphant-class vessels to replace these older units, in 1991 this number was decreased to four. The final vessel of this project, Le Terrible, is expected to enter service in 2010.[2] The new Le Triomphant-class is currently equipped with 16 M-45 SLBMs each carrying six TN-75 nuclear warheads, but these will soon be progressively replaced with the new M-51 SLBM that will carry four warheads. [9] As France decided to dismantle its land-based ICBMs at Plateau d’Albion in 1996, its SSBN force is now the nucleus of the country’s strategic deterrent and it maintains a continuous at-sea presence.[5,6]

The French Navy's area of operation includes the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. It also maintains a presence near the economic zones of its numerous overseas territories and former colonies, such as French Polynesia and New Caledonia in the South Pacific, the West Indies and French Guyana in the Caribbean Sea, Reunion Island and Mayotte in the South Indian Ocean, and Djibouti at the mouth of the Red Sea.[4]

The next generation of attack submarines, the Barracuda project, will incorporate experience gained in the operation of the Rubis/Améthyste-class units during the Kosovo and Afghanistan campaigns.[4] The new class will feature improved communication capabilities and, more importantly, an increased force-projection capability based on cruise missiles.[7] France and Britain have jointly developed the Storm Shadow/Scalp EG cruise missile, which can fulfill this force projection requirement due to its effectiveness against hardened targets and high level of accuracy.[8]

 

 

 

 

 

 

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.