PARIS (France), May 8, 2018, Author: Galina Zdravkova (Bm), Photo: Charly Triballeu/AFP via Getty Images
France will acquire a fifth Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine. This was confirmed by the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France on 7th May, reported Defense News.
The decision was taken on 2nd May 2018 during a ministerial investment meeting held by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and is in accordance with the expectations of Adm. Christophe Prazuck, the French Navy chief of staff, who stated in October in front of the parliamentary defence committee that he hoped the fifth boat to be ordered in 2018.
Actually, there are also plans for another sixth Barracuda boat, because, according to the said by the Ministry, the draft 2019-2025 multiyear budget law includes funding for six Barracuda submarines. Four of the boats shall be delivered by 2025.
The Barracuda submarine will be fitted with naval cruise missiles and have the capability of deploying special forces while underwater. The missions are to involve anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, land attack, crisis management, intelligence gathering, and special operations.
The Barracuda is a new nuclear attack submarine. It is designed by the French shipbuilder Naval Group (formerly called DCNS) for the French Navy under a framework contract signed with DGA (the French defence procurement agency) in December 2006 for replacing the Rubis-class submarines.