Barracuda program : first starp-up for the Suffren reactor

Following the launch of the Suffren on July 12 in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, a new milestone was reached with the reactor’s divergence, a prelude to its first sea trials prior to its delivery in 2020.
The startup of the Suffren’s nuclear power plant was recently carried out by teams from TechnicAtome and Naval Group at the Cherbourg site, in accordance with authorizations issued by the Nuclear Safety Authority and the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA).

Designed under the supervision of the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), the nuclear plant was constructed under the project management of TechnicAtome, the plant’s designer, while Naval Group was responsible for manufacturing the pressure vessels and integrating the nuclear reactor aboard the Barracuda-class submarines.
A thousand employees from both companies are working full-time in parallel on the six reactor systems for the Barracuda program.

Loïc Rocard, Chairman and CEO of TechnicAtome, stated, “The first startup of the nuclear reactor is a special moment for everyone who has contributed to making this operational and technological success possible. From designers to operators, including assemblers, test engineers, welders, and so many other trades, this is a rare moment of collective achievement, symbolizing an industry that delivers on its promises in service to the French Navy.”

Hervé Guillou, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group: “The start-up of the nuclear power plant aboard the submarine Suffren is yet another demonstration of the expertise of the French nuclear , with TechnicAtome and Naval Group at the forefront. This successful ensures that we have an unparalleled defense capability with a high level of industrial autonomy, serving France’s sovereignty.”

The Divergence in Question
The divergence procedure is conducted from the Propulsion Control Station (PCP) of the submarine Suffren. The operation involves initiating a controlled nuclear reaction in the core for the first time. Although brief, this operation marks the beginning of continuous monitoring of the nuclear reactor by the control teams. It will continue uninterrupted until the submarine is permanently decommissioned, which is expected around the 2050s.

The Suffren
The Barracuda is the submarine of the 21st century, designed to meet the operational needs of the navy today and tomorrow. It is equipped with extensive operational capabilities and the latest technologies. More versatile, more capable, and better armed than its predecessors, the Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SNA) will enable the navy to go faster and farther. It is designed to operate in all types of maritime environments, from the high seas to coastal waters.

Launched in 1998 by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), the Barracuda program renews the nuclear attack submarine fleet, which consists of six Rubis-class nuclear attack submarines that entered service in the early 1980s. The associated development contract was awarded in late December 2006.

The Suffren-class nuclear attack submarine is equipped with a nuclear propulsion system that provides it with remarkable range and stealth. It is also equipped with communication systems that enable its integration into a naval force.

Key Figures and Dates
This is a long-term program: it took more than ten years to study the project’s feasibility and arrive at a submarine design that meets the operational requirements outlined in the military specifications. As for the power plant components, raw materials had to be procured as early as the early 2000s
• Delivery of the six submarines will be spread out over a decade beginning in 2020;
• Given that the service life of Suffren-class SNA submarines will exceed 35 years, this program will keep the submarine forces engaged at least until 2060, making it one of the major weapons systems of this century;
• Since its launch, nearly 10,000 people from the program management, industrial project management, and subcontracting supply chain have worked on the Barracuda program.
The Suffren, the first in the series, was launched on August 1, 2019, and will begin sea trials in the first quarter of 2020, arriving in Toulon before the summer.