France’s Barracuda-class submarine programme has reached another milestone as Naval Group transferred the fifth nuclear-powered attack submarine from its Cherbourg shipyard for further fitting and testing. The report identifies the vessel as Rubis (S639) and states that French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin attended the movement of the hull onto a specialised floating platform. The programme was established to replace older French Navy submarines dating from the 1980s. Before entering service, the vessel will undergo additional systems integration, reactor activation, harbour trials and sea trials. The wider Suffren-class programme comprises six submarines intended to become operational by the end of the decade. Work on the final boat, Casabianca, is in progress, with a planned 2028 launch and 2029 service entry. The design incorporates acoustic isolation and an X-shaped stern configuration to improve stealth and manoeuvrability. It supports intelligence gathering, land-attack operations and special-forces missions. Its armament can include heavy torpedoes, land-attack missiles, anti-ship missiles, mines and unmanned underwater vehicles. The platform is reported to have a maximum speed of 25 knots and an operational endurance of up to 70 days.
