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French President Emmanuel Macron launched in Cherbourg (North West) the "Suffren", the first of a series of six new nuclear attack submarines (SNA), on July 12, 2019. Ludovic MARIN / AFP

The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron inaugurated this Friday, July 12 in Cherbourg the new French nuclear submarine Suffren .

In front of the 99-meter-long black hull, whose bow has been covered with the tricolor cockade, President Emmanuel Macron congratulates Naval Group employees. " It's not just submarines you build here, " he tells them. What you are building is the independence of France, our sovereignty, our freedom of action, our very status as a great power. "

► See also: The "Suffren" will change the game for the French Navy

The Suffren is the seventeenth nuclear submarine to be built in Cherbourg. With the United States, Russia and China, France is part of the very closed club of nations capable of building an end-to-end nuclear submarine. " It is a great pride, it is also proof of the continuity of the investment of France in its deterrence, in its naval force ", remarks Hervé Guillou, president of Naval Group.

For the occasion, representatives from Brazil, India and Australia, customers of Naval Group , were invited this Friday in Cherbourg. The Chief of the Navy Staff reminds him: we are seeing a submarine race. " There are 450 submarines in the world. There is a real heavy investment of many armies in the maritime field, and particularly in the underwater domain. Yes, the opponents are sharper, more formidable, more numerous , admits Admiral Christophe Prazuck.

The Suffren will be the first in a series of six nuclear attack submarines in service until 2060. China has planned to produce one to two nuclear attack submarines per year during the next decade.

[#EVENT] From 11:00 am, watch the #Suffen ceremony broadcasted from ourNaval Group site of Cherbourg. Stay tuned! https://t.co/tCluQ1uNT6

Naval Group (@navalgroup) July 12, 2019