On Monday September 30, 2024, the French industrialist specializing in defense shipbuilding Naval Group announced in a press release that it had concluded the sale of four submarines to the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Submarines based on the Barracuda
French know-how no longer needs to be demonstrated. Whether by air or sea, France is one of the most technologically advanced armies. In this sense, the Royal Netherlands Navy has chosen to sign with the French Naval Group for the delivery of four Barracuda class submarines.
Already in operation in the French navy, it is this model which was at the heart of a controversy between France and Australia. Indeed, in 2018, the island country ordered 12 of these buildings to strengthen its army before suddenly canceling the contract in 2021 to move closer to the United States. France then missed its chance to realize the “contract of the century” worth more than 55 billion euros.
Finally in 2024, the Barracuda program attracted the Netherlands, which therefore concluded a sales agreement for four of its devices. And the names have already been found. Thus, without any date of first delivery having been communicated, the Royal Netherlands Navy, whose objective is to modernize its army, will see arrive in its ranks: theOrkaTHE ZwaardvisTHE Barracuda and the Tijgerhaai (Orca, Swordfish, Barracuda and Tiger Shark).
Buildings that will not be powered by nuclear power
If France has nuclear attack submarines (SNA) as well as nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), this will not be the case for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Indeed, as we are reminded Releasethe Barracuda models sold in the Netherlands by Naval Group will have so-called conventional propulsion.
In other words, they will benefit from silent submarines powered by a diesel-electric engine. This allows a very long autonomy underwater as well as on missions, but which is not at the level of nuclear propulsion.
As part of the Barracuda program, the devices sold in the Netherlands are Black Swords Barracuda. They are therefore distinguished by their so-called conventional propulsion, but also by their dimensions.
Indeed, the French army's Suffren-class Barracuda measures 99.5 meters long and weighs nearly 4,500 tons. For its part, a Black Sword Barracuda measures 82 meters long and weighs nearly 3,000 tons.
A multi-billion euro contract
No amount, not a shadow of a figure, was clearly announced in the Naval Group press release for the sale of its four submarines. However, we can easily get a fairly clear idea of the amount spent by the Netherlands to modernize its navy.
Indeed, in March 2024, the AFP announced that the budget which had been allocated to purchase these submarines was 5.6 billion euros. A significant amount. However, according to the press agency whose comments were notably taken up by West FranceNaval Group's offer was below this amount.
Even if the humiliation experienced in 2021 during Australia's withdrawal is surely still remembered, there is no doubt that such news will help to calm everyone down a little.
Source : Naval Group / Release / West France
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