Scorpène-class

A Franco-Spanish diesel-electric attack submarine family with optional MESMA air-independent propulsion, exported to four navies and built under transfer-of-technology in India and Brazil.

Overview

The Scorpène-class is a conventional (diesel-electric) attack submarine designed by the French Naval Group (formerly DCNS) in partnership with Spain's Navantia. It forms the export backbone of French submarine industrial cooperation, with boats in Chilean, Malaysian, Indian, and Brazilian service. The design is notable for its low acoustic signature, a modular combat system, and the option of a MESMA (Module d'Énergie Sous-Marine Autonome) air-independent propulsion (AIP) module, which allows extended submerged endurance of more than three weeks without snorkeling. India's locally built Kalvari class and Brazil's Riachuelo class are the two largest Scorpène programs, both incorporating transfer-of-technology and indigenous content, while an evolved version was ordered by Indonesia in 2025.

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