Commissioning of the Nuclear-Powered Missile Submarine Le Vigilant  


Since 12-11-04

From French Ministry of Defence (press release), 26 Nov. 2004

Excerpted from NSL UPDATE 12-8-04

PARIS --- The nuclear-powered missile submarine Le Vigilant, of the Triomphant class, has been officially commissioned into the fleet.  

Third boat of the SNLE Nouvelle Generation design, Le Vigilant will replace the SSBN L'Indomptable, which will be decommissioned in 2005. Operating as part of the navy's Force Oceanique Strategique (FOST), Le Vigilant will contribute to permanently ensuring France's nuclear deterrence.

With a length of 138 meters and a displacement of 14,300 metric tonnes, Le Vigilant carries 16 M45 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which from 2010 will be gradually phased out and replaced by the M51 missiles.

The submarine's performance, in terms of endurance and low acoustic signature, as well as its higher submerged speed, will protect Le Vigilant against current and future detection capabilities and ensure its operational invulnerability.

As with all French nuclear submarines, Le Vigilant will be operated by two alternating crews (called Blue and Red). Each crew consists of 110 officers, NCOs and sailors, compared to 130 in boats of the previous generation, thanks to enhanced automation. The crews are on average 27 years old, and will alternate on board to allow the boats to be at sea almost permanently. The fourth and final boat of the Triomphant class, Le Terrible, is due to be commissioned in 2010.