Tourville Attack Submarine Officially Commissioned into French Navy Service

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On July 4, 2025, the French Navy officially commissioned the nuclear-powered attack submarine Tourville, marking the third vessel of the Suffren-class—also known as the Barracuda-class—to enter active service. This development represents a continuation of France’s strategic modernization of its underwater warfare capabilities, initiated under the Barracuda program. The program aims to replace the aging Rubis-class submarines with six new-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines by 2030.

Tourville submarine. French MoD

The construction of Tourville began on June 28, 2011, with the ceremonial cutting of the first steel sheet at Naval Group’s shipyard in Cherbourg. The submarine was named after Vice Admiral Anne Hilarion de Costentin de Tourville, a prominent figure in French naval history. After more than a decade of development, the vessel was moved to its launch platform on July 20, 2023. A key milestone occurred on April 24, 2024, when its nuclear reactor achieved initial criticality, validating its propulsion system. Sea trials commenced on July 12, 2024, followed by its first dive on July 17. The submarine was delivered to the French Navy on November 16, 2024, just four months after sea trials began—a notably shorter timeline compared to its predecessors.

The Suffren-class submarines are designed to enhance operational endurance, stealth, and strike capabilities. Measuring approximately 99 meters in length and 8.8 meters in width, Tourville can accommodate 65 crew members and commandos. These submarines are equipped with advanced sonar systems, torpedoes, and cruise missiles, enabling them to perform a wide range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and power projection.

The Barracuda program, valued at €9.1 billion, is led by Naval Group in partnership with TechnicAtome and overseen by the French defense procurement agency DGA. The program’s first submarine, Suffren, entered service in June 2022, followed by Duguay-Trouin. The remaining submarines—De Grasse, Rubis II (name unconfirmed), and Casabianca—are in various stages of construction and testing. De Grasse has already begun sea trials and is expected to be commissioned by 2026.

In parallel with the commissioning of Tourville, the French Ministry of Armed Forces inaugurated the modernized Missiessy dry dock no. 2 in Toulon. This infrastructure upgrade is part of the Barracuda Reception and Support Infrastructure Programme (PI ASB), a €3 billion initiative aimed at enhancing the naval base’s capacity to support the new submarine fleet. The refurbished dock can now accommodate two Suffren-class submarines simultaneously and includes reinforced earthquake-resistant structures, updated utility networks, and nuclear safety systems.

The French Navy’s current submarine fleet consists of nine nuclear-powered vessels: four Le Triomphant-class ballistic missile submarines and five attack submarines. With the induction of Tourville, the number of Barracuda-class submarines rises to three, while two Rubis-class submarines—Améthyste and Perle—remain in service but are slated for decommissioning.

The commissioning of Tourville and the associated infrastructure developments reflect France’s ongoing efforts to maintain a capable and modern submarine force. These initiatives are aligned with broader defense objectives focused on strategic autonomy, deterrence, and global operational reach.

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