France is buying six new Barracuda class SSN's (nuclear attack submarines), for about $1.6 billion each. The 4,100 ton boats are smaller than America's new 8,000 ton Virginia class subs (which cost about $1.8 billion each). A new class of Russian SSNs will displace 6,000 tons. The older American Los Angeles class boats were about 7,000 tons. Size does matter, as it indicates how much space you have available for sensors and weapons. Larger boats are better equipped and more heavily armed.

The first Barracuda won't be launched until 2012, at the earliest. The new Russian SSN will arrive after that. The U.S. already has two Virginia's in service, with a third arriving early next year. By 2010, two Virginia's a year will enter service, for an eventual total of about 30 subs. The Barracuda's, will rely on a lot of automation, and have a crew of only about sixty. Russian boats are designed along similar lines. The Barracuda's will have four torpedo tubes, which can also be used to launch missiles.