Euronaval 2024: France's Naval Group's New Blacksword Barracuda Submarine Revolutionizes Underwater Combat Stealth.

The Blacksword Barracuda submarine, recently unveiled by French Company Naval Group at Euronaval 2024, represents a new era in submarine technology with advanced stealth, firepower, and endurance capabilities. Building upon the legacy of the Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, this conventional diesel-electric variant is designed with an Albacore hydrodynamic shape and stealth-optimized features, minimizing acoustic signatures for exceptional undetectability. This refined design enables the Barracuda to covertly approach high-risk targets, operating silently even in contested waters with an extremely low indiscretion ratio.
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Scale model of France's Naval Group Blacksword® Barracuda submarine showcased at Euronaval 2024, highlighting advanced stealth and combat capabilities set to revolutionize underwater warfare.(Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Its streamlined Albacore hull shape is at the core of the Blacksword  Barracuda’s submarine stealth capabilities, a design optimized to reduce acoustic visibility. The hull materials and specialized coatings effectively absorb and deflect sonar waves, providing a lower profile against active sonar detection. This stealth-focused engineering allows the submarine to perform clandestine maneuvers in complex underwater environments, supporting missions where undetectability is paramount.

The Blacksword Barracuda is equipped with the SUBTICS® combat system, an integrated platform that combines sensor data, weapons control, and real-time situational processing. The submarine’s advanced sonar suite includes passive and active sonar systems capable of detecting and tracking multiple underwater targets over long ranges, which ensures robust situational awareness and threat detection. The integration of high-resolution optronic masts further enhances its detection and surveillance capabilities, enabling the crew to understand the submarine’s operational environment comprehensively.

The Blacksword Barracuda’s weaponry configuration features six modular weapon tubes capable of deploying a range of munitions, from heavyweight torpedoes to anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. With a maximum weapons payload of 30 heavy munitions, this modular setup allows the submarine to tailor its loadout based on mission requirements, providing substantial flexibility. This capacity for diverse weapon deployment positions the Barracuda as a formidable force in both defensive and offensive naval operations, equipped to neutralize surface and submarine threats and strike land-based targets when required.

The MAGTRONIC electric propulsion motor is powering the Barracuda, a high-efficiency system that operates with near-silent acoustics, further enhancing its stealth while submerged. The submarine’s lithium-ion battery configuration supports prolonged high-speed operations and significantly extends mission endurance. With a submerged speed of over 20 knots and an operational depth exceeding 350 meters, the Barracuda can sustain long-range missions with a mission autonomy surpassing 70 days. Furthermore, its operational availability exceeds 240 days per year, making it one of its class's most versatile and enduring submarines.

The Blacksword Barracuda is also fitted with a dedicated Special Operations Trunk to support special forces operations, enabling rapid deployment and recovery of special forces units and equipment. This capability is crucial for high-stakes missions such as reconnaissance and direct-action interventions in hostile or politically sensitive regions. The trunk system is designed for versatility, allowing the submarine to perform complex insertion and extraction operations while maintaining low observability.

The Blacksword Barracuda is engineered with a forward-looking approach, incorporating growth potential to adapt to evolving defense technologies. Future upgrades can include advancements in cyber threat management and additional capabilities for autonomous operations. The Barracuda can be integrated into allied naval fleets to support seamless technology transfer, ensuring compatibility and interoperability with NATO and allied forces.

The Royal Netherlands Navy selected the Blacksword® Barracuda to replace its aging Walrus-class submarines. The Blacksword® Barracuda will play a central role in enhancing Dutch naval defense. The first two of these new submarines, provisionally named HNLMS Orka and HNLMS Zwaardvis, are expected to be delivered within ten years of contract signing. These submarines will offer the Netherlands advanced expeditionary capabilities, with operational flexibility designed for global deployment​​.

The Blacksword® Barracuda submarine exemplifies the cutting-edge advancements in submarine technology, featuring groundbreaking stealth capabilities, versatile firepower, and robust endurance that redefine modern naval warfare. With its low acoustic profile and optimized Albacore hull design, the Barracuda offers unmatched stealth, allowing for near-undetectable operations in hostile waters. High-performance sensors integrated into the SUBTICS® combat system and an advanced sonar suite ensure superior situational awareness and rapid threat response. The modular weaponry and dedicated Special Operations Trunk enhance its versatility, enabling it to perform a range of missions from deep strikes to covert special operations. Supported by the MAGTRONIC electric propulsion system and a durable lithium-ion battery setup, the Barracuda achieves high speeds, extended underwater endurance, and operational flexibility. These innovations position the Barracuda as a model of technological evolution in submarines, meeting the complex demands of modern naval forces and ensuring operational superiority across diverse maritime theaters.