France's new SSBN: Making Attack-class 2nd or 3rd Priority.

The above video was placed by Naval Group International on its new SSBN program website dated February 19/20, 2021.
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Naval Group is proving itself an industrial miracle in simultaneously running its new SSBN "SNLE 3G" Program alongside its (over-budget, missed deadlines) Australian Attack-class SSK Program. Also see this new French SSBN reference.

Developing the almost totally new Attack-class is a major and difficult activity for Naval Group. This would ordinarily dominate Naval Group's submarine design effort for the next ten years. The Attack-class may share a common hull shape with the Barracuda-Suffren class SSN but that is all.  The Attack Program is also totally different from Naval Group turning out the near MOTS Scorpene-class subs that it has launched since 2003. So it is difficult for Naval Group to be involved with the development of the Attack-class and the future SSBN simultaneously. 

Naval Group can claim the Attack-class launch-of-sub timings place Attack SSK  before France's new SSBN. But each program lasts 15 years from initial contracts to commission of subs.

The Attack-class's 15 years extend from 2016 to 2031. France's new SSBN's timings extend from 2021 to 2036. That means there is a 10 year overlap (of limited French management, designer and worker resources) between the years 2021 and 2031. 

The statement accompanying Naval Group's February 20, 2021 video, when translated into English: 

"The [French] Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly will officially launch the realization of the [France’s new SSBN Program]. A major program for Naval Group, a benchmark industrial partner in the service of French sovereignty. This new generation of SSBN will meet the operational needs of the French deterrence posture from 2030 to 2090. The operational commissioning of the 1st submarine is scheduled for 2035, that of the other 3 at the rate of one every 5 years.

[Pierre Éric Pommellet Chairman and CEO of Naval Group said] “Naval Group is very proud to put its skills, talents and industrial resources at the service of France's dissuasion mission. The whole company will mobilize with its partners to carry out this exceptional project. [France’s new SSBN Program] remains one of the most complex industrial products ever made. Its design and construction require rare know-how, unique industrial resources and the ability to unite 200 partner companies. Our unique positioning as a systems integrator architect allows us to: commit to the overall performance of the vessels assume overall responsibility for their construction guarantee control of quality, deadlines and costs.”"

As Naval Group is French Government owned "62.25% by the French State” limited French management, designer and worker resources will prioritize the new French SSBN "dedicated to France's sovereignty" over Australia's Attack-class SSK.  

Readers should note SSBNs are always the highest priority weapon of the large nuclear weapon states that can afford SSBNs.

Counterintuitively Naval Group can continue to claim the Attack-class program is not second priority. Or not even third priority - when one considers Naval Group needs to make the Barracuda-Suffren class SSN operational. That SSN was commissioned on November 6, 2020 but "Full Operating Capability" is a hurdle Suffren has not yet  achieved. 

Completion of France's new SSBN Program on time, on budget, is reportedly part of France's 2019-2025 Military Plan Law. Does such a law apply to completion of Australia's Attack-class SSK, on time, on budget?