DCNS concept submarine, the SMX OCEAN, is fitted with an impressive load of up to 34 weapons for action in the four domains: anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine & action against land targets.
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PETE'S COMMENTS (the revision)
Although DCNS is marketing (see below) the SMX Ocean as being a conventional version of the Barracuda SSN there are sufficient differences for these to be considered distinctly different submarines - particularly if used by Australia. It is also obvious DCNS has not yet publically put forward any unit or program price for Australia. Perhaps DCNS will propose a program price to any Australian delegation at the Euronaval 2014 currently in progress?
I suspect the SMX unit price may be near that of the Barracuda SSN (the latter in any case not for sale)? This may mean Australia actually buying Barracudas SSNs or US Virginia SSNs may not be far different from buying SMXs.
As well as the propulsion and propeller differences the Barracuda would have major differences in buoyancy dynamics. This is in terms of the many diesel fuel tanks needed for an SMX but not included in the nuclear propelled Barracuda. These diesel fuel tanks would need to be emptied during a voyage and then presumably progressively filled with seawater to maintain balance and buoyancy.
The Barracuda would be mostly designed for Atlantic temperature and salinity conditions rather than any Australian SMX's Indian-Pacific Ocean only conditions - with consequent differences in air-conditioning and perhaps in absorbent tile-cladding and hull-steel types.
It is very unlikely Australia would adopt a French submarine combat system (sensors, data management and weapons). Australia is likely to stick with the present-evolved US combat system already used on the Collins.
A vertical multi-purpose lock (VMPL) or VLS is not worth the weight penalties for the combat power of 6 SLCMs. The weight tradeoff is also negative if there is a horizontal diver vehicle pod (behind the sail) fitted or retrofitted.
The extended development-building period for the not yet completed Barracuda may indicate uncertainty, risk and trouble for the SMX (and of course the not even started German TKMS-HDW 216). A big disadvantage of the SMX and 216 may also occur for any major repairs needed in France or Germany compared to repairs in much nearer Japan (for the Soryu).
The SMX's almost all new diesel-electric propulsion system sounds problematic. There are insufficent details concerning the "second generation" AIP. The SMX's proposed "six" diesel engines sound ad hoc and likely to increase the chances of malfunctions. It would be much better if France itself uses the proposed Lithium-ion batteries on SSKs for years - making them more mature and less risky for Australian use.
The greater weight of 4,700 tons surfaced (?) for the SMX (compared to the 3,000 ton surfaced Soryu and 216) will almost definitly make the SMX much more expensive. The SMX would likely become another Australia only orphan design like the 216 but unlike the existing Soryu. Australia cannot rely on other countries (like Canada or India) to buy the SMX or 216 so as to avoid the Australian orphan result.
It appears overall that DCNS has developed the SMX (4 week old?) sales campaign in a hurry to head-off any final Australian decision in favour of the existing Soryu or, less likely, the 216. The Pacific regional alliance benefits of Australia selecting a Japanese submarine are greater than any alliance benefits concerning France or Germany which are basically North Atlantic powers.
Navy Recognition reported September 30, 2014, that France's DCNS will introduce a new submarine concept at Euronaval 2014 to be held from October 27th to 31st at Paris Le Bourget in France. The SMX OCEAN is based on a Barracuda hull, the next generation SSN of the French Navy, fitted with a conventional propulsion system (SSK) with AIP technology. see http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2029
The SMX OCEAN announcement is clearly timed for and aimed at Australia's so far informal Future Submarine (FSM) SEA 1000 Project. At 4,700 tons [surfaced based on the Barracuda's specifications] SMX OCEAN is much heavier and more capable than the favourite (the in-production Japanese Soryu submarine) and perhaps more so than the German TKMS-HDW 216 concept submarine.
The focus of DCNS engineers in developing this concept is put on endurance and high sustained speed. The 4,700 tons SSK is designed for an endurance of 14,000 nautical miles (3 months autonomy) and a continuous transit speed of 14 knots for 1 week thanks to its Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system fitted with two fuel cells. The original nuclear propulsion system of the Barracuda design would be replaced with six diesel engines and three sets of Lithium-ion batteries.
Two thruster pods would be deployable at the bottom of the hull to allow the submarine to maneuver while the main screw is not in action (full stop). The X rudder design is the same as on the Barracuda and allows increased maneuverability.
The SMX OCEAN concept is fitted with an impressive load of up to 34 weapons for action in the four domains: anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine & action against land targets.The SMX OCEAN SSK is fitted with one large modular VLS tube [also known as a vertical multi-purpose lock (VMPL)] that may launch up to six cruise missiles. The submarine may also deploy F21 heavy torpedoes, SM39 Block 2 anti-ship missiles and a submarine launched version of the Mica missile (A3SM Underwater Vehicle Version) for self protection against air threats.
Finally a DCNS representative told Navy Recognition that the SMX OCEAN may deploy and recover a new UUV DCNS is working on, as well as deploy a UAV acting as remote sensor for intelligence gathering.
VIDEO ANNOUNCING THE SMX OCEAN
Navy Recognition later reports, October 10, 2014, http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2052 :
Xavier Mesnet, Marketing Director (Export of Submarines) at DCNS, gives Navy Recognition an exclusive preview of the SMX OCEAN that will be unveiled at Euronaval 2014. The interview was conducted at the confidential site of Bagneux where DCNS develops its combat management systems and conduct some research and development on future projects. | |||
Xavier Mesnet presents the SMX OCEAN heavy SSK to be unveiled at Euronaval 2014. | |||
The focus of DCNS engineers in developing this submarine was put on endurance and high sustained speed. The 4,700 tons SSK was designed for an endurance of 14,000 nautical miles (3 months autonomy) and a continuous transit speed of 14 knots for 1 week. To achieve such performance, the propulsion system is based on DCNS' revolutionary second generation fuel cell. It consists in the combination of a diesel reformer (therefore only diesel is used for both the diesel engine and the AIP) with air fuel cell technology. More details on this second generation fuel cell (which has already been tested by DCNS) as well as on the SMX OCEAN will be disclosed during Euronaval 2014. | |||
The SMX OCEAN SSK is DCNS answer to the recent emergence of several heavy SSK projects such as the Type 216 by TKMS (~4,000 tons ), the KSS III project from South Korea (~3,000 tons) or the Soryu class of Japan (~4,000 tons). DCNS already has the know how to design heavy submarines (few shipyards in the world are capable of designing and producing SSBNs and SSNs) and DCNS insists SMX OCEAN is more than a concept: Construction could start fairly rapidly since it is based on the already under production Barracuda SSN. |