Le Terrible nuclear submarine launched

President Nicolas Sarkozy recently launched Le Terrible (The Awesome), a 138 meter submarine powered by an Areva TA 150 MW K15 pressurised water reactor. Le Terrible joins its sister ships, Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire and Le Vigilant (The Triumphant, The Bold and The Vigilant). The submarine, weighing 14,000 tonnes and consisting of more than one million components, will enter active service in 2010. It will be the last of Le Triomphant class subs; construction will begin on six Baracuda class submarines, again powered by K15 units, over the next decade.

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