First steel cut for French SNLE 3G deterrent submarine

The first SNLE 3G submarine is due to enter service in the mid-2030s. (Naval Group)

French shipbuilding, support, and services contractor Naval Group has formally commenced construction of the first third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (sous-marin nucléaire lanceur d’engins de troisième génération: SNLE 3G) for the French Navy.

A steel-cutting ceremony was held at Naval Group’s Cherbourg shipyard in northwest France on 20 March. The as-yet-unnamed submarine will be the first of a planned four SNLE 3G boats intended to replace the current Le Triomphant-class deterrent submarines from the mid-2030s to ensure that the French Navy can continue to maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent well into the second half of the century.

The Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) is managing the SNLE 3G programme in partnership with the Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives energy commission. At the industrial level, Naval Group and nuclear group TechnicAtome are working as co-prime contractors: Naval Group is taking responsibility for the submarine design, build, and integration, while TechnicAtome is responsible for the development and production of the new K22 pressurised water reactor.