Naval Group has launched the Suffren-class nuclear-powered submarine FS Tourville for the French Navy - the submarine will receive MdCN, Exocet SM39 missiles and F21 heavy torpedoes

The French Navy will soon receive a new nuclear-powered submarine. Naval Group has launched another Suffren-class submarine. It is called FS Tourville.

Here's What We Know

FS Tourville is the third Suffren-class nuclear-powered submarine. It has been assigned the S637 ship number. Construction of the submarine began more than 12 years ago. Next year it will join the French Navy. After that, testing will begin.

The submarine is equipped with a 200,000 horsepower (150 MW) K15 nuclear reactor. It has a maximum submerged speed of 45 kilometres per hour. FS Tourville (S637) will be able to carry out missions longer than nine months if provisioning is established.

The nuclear submarine is 99 metres long, 8.8 metres in diameter and has a displacement of up to 5,200 tonnes. The crew consists of 63 people. FS Tourville (S637) will receive MdCN cruise missiles and F21 heavy torpedoes, as well as Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles to strike the enemy.

The French Navy is phasing out the Rubis-class subs. They will be replaced by six new Suffren-class nuclear-powered submarines, the last of which will be commissioned in 2030. They are named Suffren (pictured above), Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, De Grasse, Rubis and Casabianca.

Source: Naval Group