Shortfin Barracuda (class)

History of the shortfin barracuda (class)

French DCNS is leading the design and development of a new generation of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) attack submarines of the Shortfin Barracuda-class (Block 1A) as part of the Future Submarine Program. Selected by Australia in April 2016 to replace aging Collins-class ships, the design will significantly enhance the RAN's underwater capabilities in the embattled Asia-Pacific theater.

The ships are diesel-electric variants of the French nuclear-powered Barracuda-class and are scheduled to enter service with the French Navy in 2019 through lead ship FS Suffren.

The Block 1A standard replaces a complex (and potentially dangerous) nuclear-powered propulsion unit with a combined diesel-electric system that provides an outstanding sea range of 18,000 nautical miles and approximately three months of underwater endurance before Need to resupply/refuel. The arrangement will feature a permanent magnet based motor system with 4 diesel generator sets and single pump injection. The crew is fixed at 60 (including 12 officers) and provides overall support for the delivery and recovery of special forces (with 12 specialists). The ship consists of 4 to 8 (different sources) x 533mm torpedo tubes equipped with 20 to 28 reloads (Mk 48 series) (again, different sources).

The tubes will also support underwater launches of the Harpoon anti-ship missile (ASM) family and possible land attack cruise missiles, as well as the delivery of naval mines (in lieu of torpedoes) as needed. Overall length is estimated at 318 feet and width is 29 feet.

The shape of these boats will be traditional, with sails set amidships (or slightly forward), a rounded nose cone assembly (which houses a powerful Thales sonar unit) and a tapered stern section . The flanking sonars are arranged on the sides of the hull near the midship. The hull topline is well contoured and the sails will accommodate the usual array of sensor, communications and radar masts.

The fins are arranged in an "X" shape. The propeller unit is shrouded to reduce noise. The dive plane is mounted on the side of the forward fuselage (as opposed to the sail assembly).

The ships will be built in Australia by ASC Pty Ltd of Adelaide, South Australia and will begin construction over the next decade. RAN expects a total of 12 ships to make up the new series of high-performance attack submarines - their arrival is said to coincide with the rise (and subsequent audacity) of the Chinese navy in the region.

The first vessel is planned to be commissioned in 2030, with service to continue into the 2070s.

RAN costs over $38. $5 billion for the program.

Specification

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