CHERBOURG, France — Naval Group and the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) completed the rollout of the fifth Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), Rubis (S639), transferring the hull from its Cherbourg assembly hall to the Cachin shiplift platform.
Developing under France’s Barracuda program to replace the legacy Rubis-class SSN fleet, the ~5,300-ton submerged displacement vessel represents a compact, highly automated nuclear attack submarine architecture. Designed for littoral and open-ocean power projection, the Suffren class features an integrated pump-jet propulsor, advanced acoustic shock-isolation mounts derived from the Triomphant-class SSBN program, a dedicated Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) integration suite for Commandos Marine/Special Operations Forces (SOF), and deep-strike capabilities via the MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval). Following its initial flotation, Rubis will undergo dockside systems integration, nuclear reactor power-up, and sea trials ahead of planned delivery to the Marine Nationale.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: NAVAL GROUP SUFFREN-CLASS (BARRACUDA PROGRAM) SSN 
* Prime Contractor & Systems Integrator: Naval Group (Cherbourg Shipyard) / TechnicAtome (Nuclear Propulsion)
* Program Lineage & Requirement: Barracuda Class SSN (Replacing legacy 2,600-ton Rubis-class SSNs)
* Hull Dimensions & Displacement:
* Submerged Displacement: ~5,300 metric tons | Surface Displacement: ~4,700 metric tons
* Length: 99.5 m | Beam: 8.8 m | Draft: 7.3 m
* Crew Complement: 65 personnel (High automation level) + capacity for 15 Special Operations Commandos
* Propulsion & Acoustic Quieting Subsystems:
* Nuclear Powerplant: 1 x K15 pressurized water reactor (PWR) [150 MWt] driving a hybrid turbo-electric / mechanical drive
* Propulsor: Encased Pump-Jet Propulsor (significantly reduces cavitation threshold at tactical speeds)
* Acoustic Isolation: Sub-assembly elastic deck raft mounting, hybrid acoustic hull tiles, and non-penetrating optronic masts
* Sensor, Avionics & Combat Management Suite:
* Combat System: SYCOBS (Système de Combat Commun Barracuda/SNLE) integrated combat management software
* Sonar Array Suite: Thales UMS 3000 flank, bow, intercept, and active sonar arrays with towed-array capability
* Payload Capacity & Kinetic Ordnance:
* Torpedo Tubes: 4 x 533 mm heavy weapon tubes with an internal capacity of up to 20 weapons
* Internal Ordnance Options:
* F21 Artemis Heavyweight Torpedoes (Wire-guided, dual-acoustic seeker)
* SM39 Exocet Block 2 Mod 2 Anti-Ship Missiles (Capsule-launched)
* MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) / Naval Cruise Missile (1,000+ km land-attack standoff range)
* FG29 Naval Mines
* Special Operations Integration:
* Removable Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) for PSM3G (Propulseur de Sous-Marin de 3ème Génération) Swimmer Delivery Vehicles
