Construction begins on lead boat of new French Navy ballistic missile submarine class

French shipbuilder the Naval Group has begun construction of the lead boat of a new class of nuclear-powered, ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) ordered by the French Navy.

Designated as third generation nuclear ballistic missile submarines (Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d’Engins de Troisieme Génération; SNLE 3G), the four new SSBNs will feature a number of improvements over their predecessors. These include extended detection capability, enhanced stealth, modern living facilities such as an onboard atmosphere reprocessing plant, advanced nuclear safety and security, and high-performance weapons and combat systems to enable the performance of deterrence missions well into the 2080s.

The Naval Group said that some of the improvements that are slated for the SNLE 3G boats will also be incorporated in the French Navy’s current fleet of SSBNs. This will help ensure the earlier submarines’ operational service lives will be extended into the 2050s.

Production of the main components of the first SNLE 3G submarines’ nuclear boiler rooms and propulsion systems, in particular the tank for the first boat in the class, has already begun at the Naval Group’s Nantes-Indret site.