Naval Group Proposes Blacksword Barracuda Submarines to Greece

Naval Group has offered its latest Blacksword Barracuda submarine design to the Hellenic Navy to replace Greece’s aging Type 209 fleet. This proposal follows a 2025 request for information for a four-submarine program aimed at modernizing Greece’s undersea capabilities.

Naval Group has submitted its Blacksword Barracuda submarine design to the Hellenic Navy in response to a 2025 request for information covering a four-submarine replacement for Greece’s Type 209 fleet. The Blacksword Barracuda represents Naval Group’s latest generation of attack submarines, featuring advanced stealth and sensor technologies.

The Hellenic Navy seeks to upgrade its underwater combat fleet as its aging Type 209 submarines approach obsolescence. This program will establish Greece’s next-generation undersea warfare capability, vital for regional maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The strategic significance lies in the Eastern Mediterranean’s increasing maritime tensions, where Greece competes with Turkey and other actors over territorial and resource claims. A modern submarine fleet enhances Greece’s deterrence and power projection in this contested zone.

The Blacksword Barracuda design is noted for its diesel-electric propulsion combined with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, extending underwater endurance. It integrates state-of-the-art sonar, combat systems, and improved survivability features suited for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.

If selected, this program will mark a significant modernization step for the Hellenic Navy’s submarine forces, potentially shifting the regional naval balance. Final procurement decisions are expected after evaluation of competing bids and operational suitability.