nuclear reactor Le Redoutable SSBN

The land-based prototype (PAT) is a nuclear research reactor for naval propulsion, developed in France in the 1960s. This pressurized water reactor, initially using enriched uranium supplied by the United States, was installed in Cadarache under the supervision of the CEA. The project was managed by the Nuclear Propulsion Group (GPN), headed by Jacques Chevallier from 1959.

Construction began in 1960, and the reactor diverged for the first time on August 14, 1964, reaching full power ten days later. Shortly after, it simulated a cruise equivalent to a round-the-world trip. This type of reactor was used in nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, such as Le Redoutable, from 1971.

During its operation, the PAT diverged more than 3,500 times and trained 2,800 sailors until its final shutdown in October 1992. It was then replaced by the CAP prototype, designed for more compact Rubis-class reactors.

The PAT was dismantled from 1994 by TechnicAtome. In 2002, the fuel was completely discharged. The reactor operated with a plate core and initially used highly enriched uranium, replaced by long-life cores with less enriched uranium, suitable for modern nuclear submarines.