Editing Suffren-class submarine (section)

=== Development === 
In October 1998, the ''[[Direction générale de l'armement|Delegation Générale pour l'Armement]]'', the French government's defense procurement agency, established an integrated project team consisting of the Naval Staff, DCN (now known as Naval Group), [[Technicatome]] and the ''[[Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives|Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique]]'', a regulatory body that oversees [[Nuclear submarine|nuclear]] power plants, to oversee a program the design of a new attack submarine class, called Barracuda.<ref name=HighBeam>{{cite web|last=Preston|first=Antony|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-209601821.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924203424/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-209601821.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=France unveils plans for new barracuda SSNs|date=1 October 2002|work=Sea Power|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref> DCN was to be the boat's designer and builder while Technicatome (since acquired by [[Areva]]) was to be responsible for the nuclear power plant. The two companies were to act jointly as a single [[General contractor|prime contractor]] to share the industrial risks, manage the schedules, and be responsible for the design's performance and costs, which at the time was estimated to be US$4.9&nbsp;billion.<ref name=HighBeam/>

On 22 December 2006, the French government placed a [[€]]7.9 billion order for six ''Suffren'' submarines with Naval Group and their nuclear power plants with Areva-Technicatome.<ref>{{cite news|title=France orders six 'Barracuda' class nuclear-driven submarines|date=22 December 2006|publisher=Agence France Presse}}</ref> According to the DGA “Competition at the subcontractor level will be open to foreign companies for the first time.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/oct_02_37.php|archiveurl=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060330024556/http%3A//www%2Enavyleague%2Eorg/sea_power/oct_02_37%2Ephp|url-status=dead|title=Navy League of the United States - Citizens in Support of the Sea Services<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=30 March 2006}}</ref> According to the contract, the first boat was to commence sea trials in early 2016, with delivery occurring in late 2016/early 2017. This was to be followed by entry into service in late 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/les-noms-des-futurs-sous-marins-nucleaires-francais-devoiles|title=Les noms des futurs sous-marins nucléaires français dévoilés|date=28 May 2007|website=Mer et Marine|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> However, this timetable for service entry was later pushed back into the early 2020s.

The first boat of the class, ''Suffren'', became fully operational in June 2022. The second boat of the class, ''Duguay-Trouin'', also suffered delays but began sea trials on 26 March 2023,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-sna-duguay-trouin-fait-sa-premiere-sortie-en-rade-de-cherbourg | title=Le SNA Duguay-Trouin fait sa première sortie en rade de Cherbourg |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent | date=27 March 2023 |access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref> performing her first dive on 27 and 28 March.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/03/frances-2nd-barracuda-type-submarine-aces-alpha-trials/| title=France's 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine Aces Alpha Trials |work=Naval News |last= Vavasseur  |first=Xavier | date=28 March 2023 |access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref> The submarine was formally delivered to the French Navy in August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/french-navy-receives-2nd-barracuda-type-submarine/|title=French Navy Receives 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine|date=12 August 2023|website=navalnews.com}}</ref> In early 2024, ''[[French submarine Duguay-Trouin|Duguay-Trouin]]'' deployed to the Caribbean as part of her ongoing trials<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-sna-duguay-trouin-aux-antilles| title=Le SNA Duguay-Trouin aux Antilles |work=Mer et Marine | date=7 March 2024 |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> and was declared fully operational in April 2024. The third submarine in the class, ''[[French submarine Tourville|Tourville]]'', began her sea trials in July 2024<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-sna-tourville-debute-ses-essais-en-mer | title=Le SNA Tourville débute ses essais en mer |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |work=Mer et Marine | date=12 July 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024}}</ref> and was delivered in November 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/naval-group-livre-le-tourville-troisieme-des-six-nouveaux-sna-de-la-classe-suffren |language=French |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |title=Naval Group livre le Tourville, troisième des six nouveaux SNA de la classe Suffren |date=19 November 2024 |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Mer et Marine }}</ref>