The fifth Barracuda nuclear attack submarin rolled out the construction dock

It’s a big day for the Rubis, which was rolled out of its construction dock on Friday, October 16. In the presence of Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, the ceremony marking the transfer of the nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) to the launching platform signaled this key milestone, which heralds the submarine’s planned launch in 2027. Between now and then, final outfitting work will be carried out in the dry dock, prior to sea trials.

The penultimate one
The Rubis is the fifth of six Suffren-class SSN submarines. Its design began in 1998 and construction began in 2007; it succeeds the Rubis submarines commissioned in the 1980s. These new ships are larger, faster, quieter, and have greater endurance than their predecessors. Nuclear propulsion gives them remarkable range and stealth.

“The flawless progress of the Barracuda program is a great source of pride. And it is a collective achievement that we are celebrating today, sharing it with our clients —the French Navy— our prime contractor partners, of course, but also all the suppliers and subcontractors who make such industrial feats possible,” said Loïc Rocard.

TechnicAtome designs and builds onboard nuclear propulsion systems for military submarines, offering ever-increasing availability, power capacity, and nuclear safety.