In
April 2013 Vice-Amiral d'Escadre (Squadron Vice-Admiral) Coriolis, commanding
officer of the French Navy's FOST (for Force océanique stratégique
or Strategic Oceanic Force), and his Royal Navy counterpart Rear Admiral
Corder, Commander Operations (COMOPS), visited the Barracuda SSN combat
system shore integration facility located at Toulon naval base, Southern
France.
All the equipment needed for the integration, the validation interfaces
and the combat systems of the future class of SSN will be installed
in this center located ashore before the start of the trial period.
For the next three years, all the features of the combat system will
be tested and checked before their installation onboard the submarine. |
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During the briefing, which illustrates the willingness
of DCNS and the French Navy to join their technical and maritime know-how
for reaching a new
level in terms of combat system ergonomics, many innovations
were presented:
» An evolution of the underwater detection suite present on current
French Navy SSBNs
» A non-penetrating optronic mast replacing conventional (optical)
periscopes
» An electronic navigation aid software
» An increased weapon fit (twice the capacity of the existing
Rubis class SSN)
» A Combat Management System capable of integrating and fusing
above and under water sensors data
Between 2017 and 2027, Barracuda-type SSNs will replace the French Navy’s
current-generation Rubis/Améthyste-class boats. Mission capabilities
will include intelligence gathering and special operations (by commandos
and special forces), anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, land strikes
and participation in joint operations wherever the type’s interoperability
and associated capabilities (discreet communications, tactical datalinks,
etc.) are required. The weapons payload will include next-generation
type F21 heavyweight torpedoes, SM39 anti-ship missiles and MdCN naval
cruise missiles.
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