The French Navy could complete the induction of its new fleet of Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) ahead of schedule, according to recently released information on the progress of the program led by Naval Group. Delivery of the six units, originally planned for 2030, could take place approximately one year earlier.
The Barracuda program formally began in November 2020 with the delivery of the lead boat, SNA Suffren, from which the class also takes its alternative name (“Suffren class”). Since then, the French Navy has made steady progress in receiving these platforms, which are intended to replace the Rubis-class submarines that have been in service since the 1980s.
To date, three units are already in active service. Suffren was commissioned in June 2022, followed by Duguay-Trouin in April 2024 and Tourville in July 2025. With these inductions, the French Navy has reached half of the planned fleet under the program.
In December 2025, Naval Group reported another significant milestone: the start-up of the nuclear reactor of the fourth submarine of the class, De Grasse (S638). This milestone, known as “divergence,” marks the initial start-up of the reactor, which then remains active and under continuous monitoring throughout the vessel’s operational life. According to the company, the process was carried out under the supervision of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and with the support of TechnicAtome, responsible for the reactor’s design and construction.
Under the updated schedule, De Grasse is expected to be delivered in 2026. It will be followed by Rubis, with an estimated delivery date of 2028, and Casabianca, whose commissioning would mark the completion of the program. However, the French Navy has indicated that all six Suffren-class submarines could be operational before 2030.
In July 2025, during the commissioning of SNA Tourville in the city of Toulon, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu highlighted the importance of the program within the broader naval modernization effort. On that occasion, he stated: “Tourville represents a tremendous technological—and therefore operational—leap forward. If we had to highlight just one aspect, it would be its ability to deploy for twice as long.”
The Barracuda-class submarines feature nuclear propulsion and are designed to carry out a wide range of missions, including cruise missile strikes, intelligence operations, and the deployment of special forces. In an institutional publication, the French Navy summarized these capabilities by stating: “Nuclear propulsion, cruise missiles, commandos transport capability… 6 Suffren-class SSNs by 2030.”
With the potential early delivery of the final submarine, the French Navy would consolidate the renewal of one of its key strategic capabilities, ensuring the long-term continuity of its nuclear submarine operations.
*Images obtained from the French Navy.
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