On February 25, 2026, Naval Group announced that the ‘De Grasse’, the fourth of six Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) has completed its first sea outing. The SSN will now begin its sea trials ahead of its scheduled delivery to the French Navy by the end of 2026.
Led by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in partnership with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) for the nuclear reactors, the Barracuda program aims to replace the Rubis-class submarines, which have been in service since the 1980s. Naval Group is responsible for the entire program, from the design to the construction of all six submarines.
