The French Navy’s fifth Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, Rubis, left its construction hall on October 16, 2026, and moved to the launch facility, paving the way for completion work and subsequent harbor and sea trials.
The milestone brings the submarine closer to delivery to the French Navy, although further work and testing remain before it enters service.
Rubis is the fifth of six submarines being built under France’s Barracuda program. The Suffren class is intended to renew the French Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet and expand its operational capabilities.
According to the French Navy, all six Suffren-class submarines are expected to be delivered by 2030. The submarines are designed to support a range of missions, including deep-strike operations and the covert deployment of special forces.
The Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarines measure 99 meters in length with a hull diameter of 8.8 meters. They have a surface displacement of 4,700 tons and a submerged displacement of 5,200 tons, reflecting a design optimized for both endurance and maneuverability in deep-sea operations.
Naval Group, in cooperation with its partners, is responsible for the production of this series of submarines, from design to shipbuilding, and for manufacturing the main components of the nuclear boilers, which are developed and produced with TechnicAtome.
On June 24, 2026, Naval Group delivered the De Grasse, the fourth in a series of six nuclear-powered attack submarines.