On February 6, 2019 I wrote: “France's Barracuda SSN Submarine Launching in 2019 – Maybe at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2019/02/barracuda-ssn-submarine-launching-in.htmlwith the text:
“The launching of France's delayed (laid down 2007) first of class Barracuda-Suffren class SSN will free up a good part of Naval Group's design and construction labour force.
...Once freed up the Naval Group design and construction labour force can begin to fully address Australia's huge Shortfin Barracuda (Attack class) SSK Program."
Six days later, Australia’s ABC “France maintains it will deliver Australia's $50 billion 'Barracuda' submarines on time” of February 12, 2019 at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-12/barracuda-delay-and-impact-on-australian-program/10800794 includes:
"France's visiting Defence Minister Florence Parly has assured Australia the future submarine program will run on time, despite a similar build project [of the Barracuda SSN] running three years late in her country.
Despite Naval Group's three-year delay with its project in France, Ms Parly says there will be no flow on effects for Australia's program.
"It's very much related to the nuclear part of our submarines and related to new norms and controls that did not exist before," she said."
PETE COMMENT
France's current attack submarine delay is much more than a "three-year delay". The US and UK have built nuclear attack submarines in less time. Why can't France? Is France having trouble funding or prioritising its whole submarine program?
Comparing the latest Japanese, US, UK and French attack submarine builds on a time, efficiency basis:
Comparing the latest Japanese, US, UK and French attack submarine builds on a time, efficiency basis:
- the Japaneselaid down first of class Soryu in 2005 and launched in 2007 = just over 2 and 2/3
and even that UK period to launch was considered excessive and embarrassing with “cost
Compare the above to France’s first Barracuda Suffrenlaid down December 2007 and not yet launched as at March 2019 = 11 and 1/4 years (so far).
So compared to the most efficient Japanese and the efficient (4 years) US we enter the less efficient, zone of the UK (7 and 1/2 years) with the French being the least efficient at "11 and 1/4 years (so far)".
This French inefficiency does not bode well for France’s next attack submarine build, which just happens to be Australia's future submarine. France's next domestic submarine project is to build a new ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) class.
Australia's future submarine will need to compete for limited French resources with that future French SSBN.
Australia's future submarine will need to compete for limited French resources with that future French SSBN.
Pete