Rediscovering Submarines: SMX-25

In the modern world, the word “submarine” brings an image of either U.S. or Russian nuclear power submarines. These nuclear submarines often stay under water for months at a time and depend on their virtually undetectable nature to survive.

The French Ministry of Defense (DCN) has released a new design titled SMX-25 that is significantly different from the existing concept of submarines. Current submarines remain underwater for their operations and are nearly helpless on the surface, but SMX-25 is intended to be completely operational both underwater and on the surface.

Compared to the 600m operational depth of the nuclear submarines, SMX-25 can dive its 4,860-ton hull only to about 100 meters under water, the Korea Defense Daily reported.

Still, SMX-25 can match the speed of the current nuclear submarines at 10 knots underwater, and produce a greater speed of 38 knots on the surface. This speed is nearly equivalent to the maximum speed of a 160-ton naval patrol vessel and is unmatched by any exiting submarine designs.

The capacity to work both above and under water makes it a highly versatile to serve as a launch pads for UAVs or approach silently and commence surprise attacks from underwater.

With the stealth design, the SMX-25 is essentially invisible to radar and can avoid detection entirely. This stealth capability is why it is shaped similar to the fictional ship, “Nautilus,” that appeared on the animation movie “Narnia” in the 1990s.

Even on the surface, SMX-25 will expose only its main mast. Depending on missions it could use vertical launching system (VLS) against other ships or secretly deploy anti-ship marine mines.

It is designed for a 27-member crew with capacity to hold dozens more for possible ground troop deployment. On top of that, the maximum 30 days operational capacity would allow the ship to appear anywhere in the world on short notices.

The French authorities claimed that vessels like the SMX-25 will be in operation within the next decade. With the versatile capability, such vessels may prove very effective in the hazardous yet shallow waters around the Korean peninsula.