3 ms·
Refueling a nuclear reactor on a submarine is very, very expensive. The Saphir obviously would need refueling to be put back in service, costing lots of money.
by astura 6y ago
Refueling a nuclear reactor on a submarine is very, very expensive. The Saphir obviously would need refueling to be put back in service, costing lots of money. If the Perle was recently refueled and the back part is where the reactor is, then it would almost certainly be cheaper to repair the Perle instead of refuel the reactor on the Saphir.
- jabl 6y agoFrench submarines are a bit different from, say, US or British ones. They are refueled at 10 year intervals, and designed accordingly (e.g. there's a big hatch above the reactor which can be removed for the refueling), and they use LEU fuel produced in an enrichment facility that also produces civilian nuclear fuel.