Electric Propulsion Makes This French Submarine On Par With A Nuclear Submarine

The SMX31E would measure 262 feet long and could debut between 2040 and 2050.Naval Group

Popular Science: Electric propulsion makes this French submarine concept extra sneaky 

The stealthy SMX31E would be powered by lithium-ion batteries, like a Tesla. 

For those navies that would like to be able to field powerful submarines but cannot afford nuclear-powered vessels, lack the know-how to build one, or have other limitations, France’s Naval Group has an answer: the SMX31E, which can theoretically stay submerged for as long as a nuclear-powered boat without ever having to come up for air. 

This 3,530-ton (that’s the submerged weight), 262-foot-long vessel is still just a concept—a boat that exists only on paper. But the technological components needed to build it “have already matured, are under development, or are expected to mature in the next few years,” program manager Stephan Meunier tells Popular Science. 

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WNU Editor: If these specs are true, this French submarine will put it on par with a nuclear submarine. This is also eye-opening .... 60 days is about how long those boats can stay submerged because they cannot carry more than two months of food supplies!