This website uses cookies to manage authentication, navigation, and other functions. By using our website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device.

Read More

France to Continue to Assist UK for SSBN Hydrodynamic Testing Despite Brexit

Posted On
a
Naval Forces News - UK, France
 
 
 
France to Continue to Assist UK for SSBN Hydrodynamic Testing Despite Brexit
 
French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly said that despite Brexit, France will continue to assist the United Kingdom for the hydrodynamic tests of the Successor SSBN program. The minister made the declaration last week during a visit to French defense procurement agency (DGA) "Techniques Hydrodynamiques", a hydrodynamic test facility in Normandy with the largest towing tank in Europe.
     
France to Continue to Assist UK for SSBN Hydrodynamic TestingView of the "B600" traction tank at the DGA facility in Normandy. It is the longest traction tank in Europe.
     
Lancaster House Treaties
The French minister added that this cooperation is mutually beneficial and is in line with the Lancaster House Treaties of 2010. The purpose of the treaties is to develop co-operation between British and French Armed Forces, the sharing and pooling of materials and equipment including through mutual interdependence, the building of joint facilities, mutual access to each other’s defense markets, and industrial and technological co-operation. It calls for cooperation in Submarine technologies and systems among other areas.

The cooperation is mutually beneficial because France's future SSBN program (SNLE 3G for 3rd generation SSBN) will be tested at a maneuvering basin in Gosport, UK, because France lacks such a basin.
     
Artist impression of a Dreadnought-class SSBN of the Royal Navy. Image: BAE SystemsArtist impression of a Dreadnought-class SSBN of the Royal Navy. Image: BAE Systems
     
Successor SSBN program
Successor is the name of the replacement program for the Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines which entered service in the United Kingdom in the 1990s with an intended service life of 25 years. It was announced in October 2016 that the first of class would be named Dreadnought, and that the class would be the Dreadnought-class. BAE Systems is the industrial lead for the program. The class will share the "common missile compartment" with the US Navy future Columbia-class of SSBN (SSBN-X program). Both classes will be fitted with TRIDENT II D5 (LE) ballistic missiles (12x for Dreadnought class and 16x for the Columbia-class).
     
France to Continue to Assist UK for SSBN Hydrodynamic Testing 2"Free model" of an Astute-class SSN at DGA Techniques Hydrondynamiques. Free models are powered by an electrical motor supplied with batteries.
     
DGA Techniques Hydrodynamiques
The DGA facility provides its expertise in hydrodynamic and hydroacoustic fields for accurate testing of surface and submarine vessel scale models. The facility comprises:
- One of the most advanced hydrodynamic tunnel which can be pressurized. It is used to measure very low levels of radiated sounds.
- The longest traction tank in Europe (545 meters long, 15 meters wide and a depth of 7 meters) and a wave generator. The basin is equipped with a towing carriage that runs on two rails on either side. Variables such as speed, sea state, propeller thrust and torque, rudder angle... can be accurately controlled. The sea keeping of the hull form can then be precisely tested.
- An advanced calculator center for digital simulation.

The DGA Techniques Hydrodynamiques facility was already used by the Royal Navy to test the Astute-class of SSN. Likewise, the future Barraccuda-class SSN of the French Navy was tested in the UK (maneuvering basin in Gosport, UK).