IDEX 2009:Andrasta compact submarine revealed

French naval shipbuilding and systems group DCNS (Hall 7, Stand B16) is giving IDEX visitors a glimpse inside its new Andrasta compact coastal submarine. Designed to meet an emerging market for a robust, affordable and supportable submarine capable of performing a range of littoral defence missions, Andrasta has been developed from the SMX-23 concept first unveiled by DCNS in 2006.

Its genesis, said DCNS, reflects market feedback indicating a gap in the market for a small yet capable submarine able to perform tasks such as deterrence, intelligence gathering and special forces support. While many navies are attracted by conventional submarines in the 1,400 to 1,800-tonne displacement bracket, not all have the financial or technical resources to operate and support boats of such cost and complexity.

The company’s answer has been to engineer a boat that builds on experience from its successful Scorpene export line (so as to reduce technical risk), but that is significantly smaller (49m in length and 855 tonnes surfaced displacement) and about half the cost to build. Operated by a crew of 19, Andrasta has a range of more than 3,000nm at low speed, and can submerge to depths of more than 200m. Submerged endurance is up to five days.

Despite its size, Andrasta is still able to pack a powerful punch, with the capability to carry up to six heavyweight weapons (torpedoes or antiship missiles) in torpedo tubes forward.It also hosts a four-console combat management system, an integrated multi-array sonar and an above-water sensor suite comprising a navigation radar, optronic mast and electronic surveillance measures.

Posted in: IDEX,Missile,Submarine