Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	June 1989 (Triomphant)
Launched:	March 1994
Commissioned:	March 1997
General Characteristics
Complement:	96 men and 15 officers
Surfaced displacement	12640 t
Submerged displacement	14335 t
Length	138 m
Maximal width	12,50 m
Height	10,60 m
Main engine	Pressurised water K15 nuclear reactor (150 MW) ; turboreductor system ; pump-propeler
Secondary Engine	2 diesels-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW).
Power	30500 kW
Submerged speed	over 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:	8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km)
Operational depth	over 600 m
Armament:	Nuclear : 16 M45 SLBM missiles with TN 75 warheads Anti-submarine : 4 x 533 mm tubes for F17 torpedoes Anti-surface : Exocet SM39
Detection Systems	Sonar DMUX 80 Sonar DUUX 5 Sonar DSUV 61B Very Low Frequency Racal Decca radar (navigation)
Electronic Warfare	ARUR 13 SCC : SET (Système d'exploitation Tactique) : tactical operational system

The Triomphant class of strategic missile submarines of the French Navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component of the French nuclear deterrent or Force de frappe, with the M45 SLBM. They are replacing the Redoutable-class boats. They are called SNLE-NG for Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération (New Generation Nuclear vehicle-launching submarines). They are roughtly 1000 (one thousand) times quieter than the Redoutable-class vessels, and 10 times more sensitive [1]. It is designed to carry the M51 nuclear missile, which should enter active service around 2010. Le Triomphant submarine This image is copyrighted by the French Navy. ... Tricolore of France Created by User:Anthony S. Tsoumbris French Tricolore flag File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam A.S. Roma A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Corsica Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European... The M45 SLBM is the French Navys submarine launched ballistic missile. ... The TN 75 is a French-built thermonuclear warhead used on Frances M45 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, carried by Le Triomphant class submarines. ... The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile made in various versions capable of being launched from surface ships and boats, submarines, and airplanes. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the naval arm of the French military and is the second-largest Western European navy (the largest being the United Kingdoms Royal Navy). ... Mutual assured destruction (MAD) is the doctrine of military strategy in which a full scale use of nuclear weapons by one of two opposing sides would result in the destruction of both the attacker and the defender. ... The Force de frappe (French: Deterrence, literally Striking Force) is the designation of what used to be a triad of air, sea and land based French Nuclear Forces, part of the Military of France. ... The M45 SLBM is the French Navys submarine launched ballistic missile. ... The Redoutable class submarine is a ballistic missile (SSBN) class, Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur dEngins (SNLE), of the Marine Nationale , the oceanic part (Force Océanique Stratégique (FOST)) of the Force de frappe. ... The M51 SLBM is the future French Navys submarine launched ballistic missile, designed to replace the M45 SLBM. In French terminology the MSBS - Mer-Sol-Balistique-Strategique (Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic missile) Each missile carries six independently targetable TN-76 thermonuclear warheads. ...

The vessels are manufactured by DCN and have a capacity of 16 missiles manufactured by Aerospatiale (now EADS SPACE Transportation.) Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) is based in France and is one of Europes leading shipbuilders. ... The Aerospatiale Corvette first flew in 1970 and went into service in 1974. ... EADS SPACE Transportation (acronym: EADS-ST) was formed in June 2003 from the Space Infrastructure division of Astrium (whose core was originally ERNO) and the EADS Launch Vehicles division (formerly Aerospatiales Space division). ...

The French Navy hopes to operate a force of four SSBNs, as with the Royal Navy's Vanguard fleet. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ...

• Triomphant : Construction began on 9 June 1989; she was launched on 26 March 1994, and entered active service on 21 March 1997.

• Téméraire : Construction began on 18 December 1993; she was launched on 21 January 1998, and entered active service on 23 December 1999.

• Vigilant : Construction began in 1997; she was launched in 2003, and entered active service in 2004.

• Terrible : Construction began on 24 October 2000 and she is currently under construction. She should join active service by 2008.

See also

• France and weapons of mass destruction
• FOST

Tampion of Triomphant