The submarine is the lead ship of the Suffren class, stemming from the Barracuda programme. Suffren is equipped with an optronic mast to replace the periscope, allowing for a much longer range, and outside visible spectrum detection of targets will have high-quality (4K) imagery.
The submarine will allow the French Navy to deploy a small underwater vehicle, PSM3G, for special forces as the vessel is equipped with a removable dry deck shelter. Special forces previously used torpedo tubes and handheld propulsion systems to conduct operations. The ship also can use the MdCN ground attack cruise missile in its submarine-borne version, launched via torpedo tube. This feature will allow French Navy to conduct strikes deep behind the enemy line while remaining stealthy.
According to the reports, the submarine is ten times quieter than the previous generation Rubis-class nuclear attack submarine.
The French Navy will acquire six new attack submarines in the coming decades.
