Defence & Space

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: Tenders for Additional Engineering Equipment under the East Shield Initiative

The 2nd Regional Logistics Base has announced four tenders related to the acquisition of engineering and construction equipment for the Polish…

2025-06-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Karkonosze Program: A Game-Changer for the Polish Air Force’s Tankers?

The Polish Air Force has been requesting the acquisition of aerial refueling tankers for years. The program to procure a multi-role transport…

2025-05-23 | Sławek Zagórski | 5 minutes

Swedish A26 Submarine and Poland’s Orka Program

In early April, Saab organized a visit for representatives of the Polish defense media to the Saab Kockums shipyard, located in Karlskrona…

2025-05-08 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 16 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. established

New subsidiary Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. complements Rheinmetall’s plant engineering expertise in planning, setting-up and operating of production…

2025-06-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Iberian Blackout: Is Poland Prepared for a Similar Scenario?

The blackout on the Iberian Peninsula has prompted a few cautious questions about whether Poland is secure in the event of…

2025-05-02 | Krzysztof Zagórski | 6 minutes

IDET & PYROS 2025: KALAN Tracked Amphibious Vehicle as the Successor to the PTS

During the International Fire Fighting Equipment and Services Fair PYROS (held alongside IDET 2025 in Brno), the Czech company New…

2025-05-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Patria AMV XP 8×8 with TURRA 30 Turret

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2025 in the Czech Republic, Finnish company Patria Oyj showcased its…

2025-05-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. established

New subsidiary Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. complements Rheinmetall’s plant engineering expertise in planning, setting-up and operating of production…

2025-06-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IDET & PYROS 2025: KALAN Tracked Amphibious Vehicle as the Successor to the PTS

During the International Fire Fighting Equipment and Services Fair PYROS (held alongside IDET 2025 in Brno), the Czech company New…

2025-05-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Leonardo and Weststar Join Forces to Supply Helicopters to Malaysia

During the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Italian company Leonardo and Malaysian firm Weststar…

2025-05-20 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: Tenders for Additional Engineering Equipment under the East Shield Initiative

The 2nd Regional Logistics Base has announced four tenders related to the acquisition of engineering and construction equipment for the Polish…

2025-06-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Polish Minister of Defence Travels to the U.S. for Meeting with Pete Hegseth

A press conference was held at the 1st Airlift Base with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz…

2025-05-26 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Another Meeting at the Polish Ministry of National Defence with a Delegation from South Korea’s DAPA

Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda met with Deputy Minister of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA),…

2025-05-14 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Airbus, CNES and VAST reaffirm commitment to strengthening EO capabilities in Vietnam

Airbus Defence and Space, the French Space Agency, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology have signed a Declaration of…

2025-05-26 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

ICEYE and IHI start cooperation to develop SAR satellite constellation in Japan

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Japanese IHI Corporation are beginning cooperation in the construction of a constellation of up to 24…

2025-05-22 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X and TLR-8 HL-X sub

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X flashlight with an integrated laser sight, producing a beam with up to 1,000 lumens of power, offering…

2025-03-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

Direct Action Spitfire Plate Carrier – Part 1: Testing the Carrier

Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of options in the gear and load-bearing equipment category. One of the most basic…

2025-05-08 | Michał Gaweł | 14 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Weapon light: a practical tool for everyday service. How to choose?

In the world of armed forces, where every second can determine the outcome of an operation, precision and effectiveness are…

2024-08-29 | Redakcja | 7 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

Direct Action Spitfire Plate Carrier – Part 1: Testing the Carrier

Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of options in the gear and load-bearing equipment category. One of the most basic…

2025-05-08 | Michał Gaweł | 14 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

France: The second nuclear Suffren is ready

The Chief of Staff of the French Navy announced the operational readiness of the second new-generation, multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine of the Suffren class, FS Duguay-Trouin (S636).

On Thursday, April 4th, the Chief of Staff of the French Navy (chef d’état-major de la Marine, CEMM), Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, announced the operational readiness of the second new-generation multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine of the Suffren class, FS Duguay-Trouin (S636), built as part of the Barracuda program. Previously, the vessel underwent sea acceptance trials starting from March 27, 2023.

Photos: CEMM via X

I announced today the commissioning of the Duguay-Trouin, the second submarine of the Suffren class. Faster, more enduring, more versatile, more discreet. In the hands of our crews, it will become an outstanding hunter for future operations, wrote Admiral Nicolas Vaujour on his profile on platform X.

The keel for FS Duguay-Trouin (S636) was laid on June 26, 2009. The vessel was named after the French corsair and admiral René Duguay-Trouin (1673-1736) and will be the eleventh unit in the Marine Nationale to bear his name and the first submarine. It thus joined the prototype FS Suffren (S635), which entered service in the Marine Nationale on November 6, 2020.

On November 26, 2021, the ship was rolled out of the assembly hall for the first time, and docking tests were conducted. The launching took place on September 9, 2022, while on September 30 of the same year the main propulsion of the vessel, namely the K15 nuclear reactor supplied by TechnicAtome, was first activated under the supervision of the French Alternative Energies And Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives – CEA). Subsequently, preparations for sea trials began.

The sea trials included: a test submersion to check the ballast system, underwater trimming, stability, and hull waterproofing; deep dives in the area of Brest; navigation tests on the surface; and then a transition to the Mediterranean Sea for SYCOBS combat system trials and qualification tests of the main armament.

Four more ships of this type are still under construction: Tourville (keel laid on June 28, 2011), which is expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2025 (it left the assembly hall on July 20, 2023). Keels were laid for De Grasse and Rubis in 2014 and 2019, respectively, and they are expected to enter service between 2026 and 2028. The last, sixth ship of the type will be Casabianca, whose keel was laid in 2020 and is expected to be delivered in 2029 or 2030. The ships will remain in service at least until the 2060s.

The Suffren-class ships are being built as successors to the six first-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines of the Rubis class. The first of these, FS Saphir (S602), was retired from service in July 2019. The next, Rubis (S601), was withdrawn in December 2022. The newest ship of the series, Perle (S606), was damaged on June 12, 2020, due to a fire during repair work. It was decided that the damaged bow section would be replaced with an identical one from the decommissioned Saphir, as the need for repair arises from the necessity to maintain combat capabilities in underwater warfare until all Suffren-class submarines are commissioned.

They will be complemented by third-generation nuclear-powered strategic submarines armed with ballistic missiles. Those units, under the program codenamed SNLE 3G (Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d’Engins de 3rd Génération), are expected to enter service between 2035 and 2050, replacing four Le Triomphant-class submarines at five-year intervals. The construction program was announced on February 19, 2019, and the first unit’s steel-cutting ceremony took place on March 20 of this year (France: Steel cutting ceremony for the first strategic submarine of a new generation).

Description

The Suffren class has a length of 99.5 meters, a width of 8.8 meters, a draft of 7.3 meters, a surface displacement of 4765 tonnes, and a submerged displacement of 5300 tonnes. The propulsion system consists of a K15 pressurized water reactor with a power of 150 MW, two 10 MW turbo-generators, two emergency diesel generators, and an electric-driven pump-jet. This setup will provide a maximum speed of 25 knots. The crew will consist of 12 officers and 48 sailors. There will also be space for a maximum of 15 special forces soldiers with equipment on board.

The ships are equipped with the Sagem/Kelvin Hughes Series 10 CSR navigation radar, two Sagem Series 30 SOM/AOM optronic masts, electronic warfare system, UMS 3000 hull sonar, and two Thales S-CUBE flank array sonars with software. They also have the SEACLEAR obstacle avoidance system, VELOX-M8 tracking, and NUSS-2F Mk2 echolocation. The units will also be equipped with the CANTO-S decoy, Link 11 and 16 communication systems, DIVESAT satellite communication, TUUM-5 Mk2 underwater communication, and PARTNER communication management system.

The armament for the four 533-mm torpedo tubes will consist of a total stock of 24 long-range MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) cruise missiles, Exocet SM39 Block 2 anti-ship missiles, and heavy torpedoes F21 Artemis in any combination. The ships will have the capability to deploy sea mines FG29 and anti-aircraft missiles of the MBDA MICA type, also launched from torpedo tubes. The management of weapon deployment will be handled by the SYCOBS (Système de Combat Commun Barracuda/SNLE) combat management system.

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