The major overhaul for le Terrible submarine

The SSBN Le Terrible has just begun its first “Periodic Out-of-Service Period for Maintenance and Repair” (IPER) since entering service in 2010. Under the project management of Naval Group , TechnicAtome is contributing its expertise in the nuclear power plant for this operation, which takes place every 10 years.

For TechnicAtome, the IPER involves inspecting and upgrading more than 200 pieces of equipment. This comprehensive inspection of all components requires the involvement of teams from its Brest facility, as well as those in Cadarache, which have the workshops and testing facilities needed to perform the maintenance work and restore the reactor’s operational readiness for the next 10 years. Its subsidiary Arcys, for its part, is responsible for the control systems and power electronics. Once this work is complete, the reactor will undergo a series of tests before the submarine is returned to active service. This is a major milestone for the teams in Brest and a challenge for TechnicAtome.