The Think Tank in charge of the study of the SSN option for the South Korean Navy reported that the Barracuda de Naval Group, which will replace the Rubies of the French Navy over the next decade, was the best choice. The French nuclear submarine is deemed efficient and safe by the South Koreans, and has the advantage of operating with a reactor using low enriched uranium. However, South Korea is required not to use enriched uranium equipment for military purposes, and must limit itself to civilian applications or the use of low enriched uranium. It is not specified whether contacts have already been made with France, but the operation is considered efficient in military terms and affordable from an economic point of view.
Until now, none of the Western countries building nuclear submarines has ever transferred them to another state. But the lines are moving... On the one hand, because of Russia, which has already leased SSNs to the Indian Navy, and which is in discussions with other states to do the same. China has also announced that it will soon offer SSNs on the Export market. On the other hand, France is involved in supporting the Brazilian SSN project, with significant technological and industrial transfers. However, in the field of nuclear submarines, France and Naval Group have recognized know-how and expertise. Thus, the SSN Rubis are the smallest nuclear attack submarines ever built, and have repeatedly shown very high performance.
Furthermore, the performance/price ratio of French SSNs is without equivalent in the West. Thus, the SSN barracuda of the Suffren class which will equip the French Navy, weighing 5300 tonnes, and carrying torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles, is given at a unit price of €1,2 billion, or 30% less than a British Astute-class submarine, and more than 50% less than an American Virginia-class submarine.
However, a nuclear attack submarine has many advantages over conventional submarines, even equipped with AIP systems allowing it to remain submerged for more than 3 weeks. Thus, an SSN has no need to surface throughout its mission, and is only limited in its duration by the living capacity of the building, and the psychological pressure on the crew. Currently, these missions last on average 60 to 70 days. In times of war, an SSN may remain in diving for more than 3 months.
In addition, an SSN does not have to conserve energy once diving, as is the case with conventionally powered submarines. They can make diving ocean crossings at high speed, something impossible for an SSK.
Finally, an SSN has a significant electrical production capacity, which, today, has become a highly sought-after characteristic to power the ever-increasing number of IT equipment, which consumes more energy.
On the other hand, the implementation of SSN also induces disadvantages, among which we can cite the difficulty in training a crew capable of piloting a nuclear-powered ship. On the other hand, the reactor cooling circuit pumps emit a weak but continuous sound, even at low speed, and can reveal the position of the submersible. Finally, the procedure for replacing the fissile material in the reactor, although it is infrequent, remains a complex, dangerous procedure, requiring rare know-how.
Regardless, for many navies, the benefits of a nuclear submarine far outweigh the drawbacks. This is why the 3 Western Navies with the technology to build and operate SSNs, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, have all stopped using conventionally powered submarines.