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President Emmanuel Macron has launched the first of France's new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the northern city of Cherbourg. The "Suffren" is the leading Barracuda attack-clbad vessel, and is expected to cement France's spot as a leader in naval defense.
The submarine is the first of six French shipsbuilder, Naval Group, as part of France's 9 billion euro stealth vessel program.
Naval group of the same submarines for Australia, in a deal worth around 31 billion euros.
Weighing to Whopping 5,000 Tons, The New Suffren is to be taken for Sea Trials in 2020. The rest of the Barracuda is unveiled in the next decade and expected to be in service in the French navy until at least 2060.
The Barracudas will be replacing the submarine rubies previously used by the French navy and will be able to launch missiles up to 1,000km against ground targets.
Expert Defense, Dominique Trinquand, says there are several benefits to the new submarines.
"They will benefit the French navy in three ways. First, they will protect aircraft carriers, secondly they will help in gathering intelligence, and thirdly, boost capacity to launch attacks from the sea.
"These are nuclear attack submarines with a new ability to launch missiles up to 1,000km."
'Level playing field'
The new Barracudas, et al.
Trinquand said the new submarines would be playing in naval defense technology.
"The new submarines certainly put France at the same level as the UK, not at the same level of the US in terms of numbers but in terms of technology and capacity," he said.
"There is new equipment coming to all services in the airforce, the army and the navy. Today's launch … puts France at the right level in the defense environment. "
The Barracudas' missions will include anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, land attacks, crisis management, intelligence gathering and special operations.
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