French submarine L'Inflexible (S 615)
- French submarine L'Inflexible (S 615)
The "Inflexible" (S 615) is the sixth and final of the "Redoutable" class SNLE ("Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins", "Nuclear Missile-Launching Submarine") of the FOST, the submarine nuclear deterrent component of the French Navy.
Construction began on 27 March 1980; launched on 23 June 1982, she was commissioned on 1 April 1985.
"Inflexible" uses basically the same design as the other "Redoutable"-class vessels, but has yet benefited from technological advances over its predecessors:
* She uses the M4 missile, which carries 6 independent 150 kilotonne of TNT equivalent nuclear warheads. Range is reported to be "over 4500 km".
* Miscellaneous improvements were made in electrical systems, nuclear systems (improving safety and stealth), rudder and engines (improving reliability and stealth).
* TIT ("Traitement de l'Information Tactique", "Tactical Information Processor"), a cluster of French-designed computers and serial digital bus links for intersystem communication.
* DMUX21 sonar.
* Capability of launching the SM 39 "Exocet" anti-ship missile
* Improved inertial navigation system.
* Improved internal communication system—SNTI, "Système Numérisé de Transmissions Intérieures" (Digital Internal Communication System)
* Miscellaneous acoustical stealth improvements
* Improved hull profile
The other "Redoutable"-class submarines have been modified to meet the standards of the "Inflexible" ("Refonte M4"). The "Inflexible" is to be decommissioned around 2010.
In entertainment
"Inflexible" has inspired "Le Soleil ne se lève pas pour nous" ("No sunrise for us") by Robert Merle, a 1987 semi-fictionous book in form of a romanced documentary.
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