The issue is economies of scale. On average, only 1 Suffren-class submarine has been laid every 3 years since 2007, and no new orders have been placed since 20

The issue is economies of scale. On average, only 1 Suffren-class submarine has been laid every 3 years since 2007, and no new orders have been placed since 2020. That is not enough dealflow to support an SoE like TechnicAtome, let alone a private sector nuclear energy player like a Westinghouse. On top of that, the reactor used (the K15) has only been used in just 12 naval applications since 1980. Entire decades can pass without new military deals for a K15-type reactor, which can lead to skill and experience attrition for what is a fairly complex piece of technology. Meanwhile, the know-how to build a diesel-electric transmission for naval applications is constantly in demand as the same technology is used in commercial naval vessels as well as locomotives. By trying to justify a dual-use case for SMRs for energy as well as commercial propulsion (which is what both China and India are investing in), it makes it easier to help maintain the knowledge needed to develop nuclear propulsion systems as well as ensure deal flow exists so a Westinghouse-style bankruptcy does not occur.