Silent sovereignty: a dive into Chile’s Scorpène® submarines

The Scorpène®, designed by Naval Group, best met the operational requirements of the Chilean Navy: stealth, endurance, advanced detection capabilities and striking power. It offered an ocean-going platform capable of countering modern surface ships, hostile submarines and sophisticated maritime surveillance aircraft.

The key point is that Chile’s unique geography requires a submarine force unlike any other. Stretching more than 4,000 kilometres along the Pacific, Chile’s coastline is one of the longest and most difficult to protect in the world. Its maritime domain covers more than 3.5 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zone, a vast space where sovereignty, national security and vital economic resources converge. From Arica to the southernmost reaches of Cape Horn and beyond, Chile maintains constant vigilance. Today, Scorpène®-class submarines, such as General O’Higgins and General Carrera, remain the most advanced conventionally powered submarines in service in Latin America. Their hydrodynamic hull, inspired by the design of French nuclear attack submarines (SSN), combined with a high level of automation and outstanding acoustic discretion, allows them to remain virtually undetectable. Equipped with powerful sensors, the integrated Subtics® (Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System), coupled with a permanent-magnet electric motor providing exceptional stealth and manoeuvrability, delivers outstanding detection capabilities and decisive strike power at a safe distance. The capacity of the Scorpène® to remain undetected for weeks at a time provides Chile with a decisive advantage in strategic deterrence and the protection of its sovereignty. When Chile selected the Scorpène®, the country was ahead of a broader global trend. In the years that followed, other major navies – including those of Malaysia, Brazil, India, and more recently Indonesia – also chose the Scorpène® for their fleets. Twenty years later, the Scorpène® has become a global benchmark in conventional submarine design and stands as a testament to Chile’s strategic foresight.

Twenty years later, Naval Group continues to work closely with the Chilean Armada. What began with the delivery of the first submarines has developed into a strong industrial partnership, which today includes the mid-life refit of the Scorpène® and the modernisation of its systems and capabilities. What’s more, the story is far from over. For an inside look into this adventure, we spoke with the First Commanding Officer of General O’Higgins, Cristián Figari.

When did Chile begin considering the renewal of its submarine fleet?

The idea of replacing the Navy’s submarine fleet began to take shape in the late 1980s, when I was a lieutenant in the Chilean submarine force.

Seventeen years passed from that initial idea to the arrival of General O’Higgins in Chile, following its departure from Cherbourg. A project of this scale and importance demands meticulous planning and preparation. Among the many options available at the time, Chile ultimately chose the French Scorpène® solution.

What convinced Chile?

Several factors quickly allowed the Scorpène® to stand out. The first was France’s complete independence in submarine design and construction, which was a crucial consideration for Chile. For a navy that thinks in the long term, that level of sovereignty is a major advantage. The second factor was the design itself. Naval Group was offering what Chile regarded as a top-tier new-generation submarine, designed for 21st-century operations and based on the latest technologies.

Are the challenges Chile faces today different from those of twenty years ago?

In terms of how submarines are used, not really. The fundamental purposes of submarine operations (decoying, invisibility and deterrence) are the same as they were twenty years ago. Chile also still has the same responsibility: safeguarding sovereignty along more than 4,000 kilometres of coastline.

However, on a tactical level, things have evolved. Technological advances and changing threats have transformed the way submarines are employed. Thanks to the evolution of the Scorpène® platform and its onboard systems, Chile remains

one step ahead of today’s challenges, detecting and engaging more effectively, operating longer, faster, deeper and more quietly. Integrated command and management systems that distribute information also make complex situations easier to assess, accelerating and simplifying the Commanding Officer’s decision-making process.

A lot has happened over the past twenty years. What role has the Scorpène® played in international cooperation and exercises? 

A lot has changed for Chile, and the Scorpène® has been central to those developments. For example, every two years the Chilean submarine force is invited to San Diego, California, to participate in high-level exercises designed to help the US Navy refine its strategies and strengthen its ability to counter the most advanced conventionally powered submarines. These are far from routine exercises: they involve the US Third Fleet, one of the largest operational commands of the US Navy, and give Chile a rare opportunity to measure itself against some of the most capable and experienced fleets in the world.

The very fact that our Scorpène® submarines are consistently invited demonstrates their stealth, endurance and modern combat capabilities, making them both valuable adversaries and trusted partners during these multinational exercises.

Over time, these deployments have built deep operational ties, reinforcing Chile’s reputation for excellence and demonstrating that the Scorpène® remains highly relevant two decades after entering service.

In many ways, the Scorpène® has become both a symbol of Chilean naval professionalism and a powerful asset for international cooperation – a platform the country can operate with confidence and credibility.

The Scorpène® has demonstrated a remarkable ability to remain “future-proof”. In your experience, what makes it so adaptable?

From the outset, the Scorpène® was designed to evolve. Its architecture is modular and offers significant growth potential, meaning that new sensors, combat systems or propulsion technologies can be integrated without altering the submarine’s basic structure. This is why the Scorpène® remains so effective over time.
The mid-life refit currently under way is the best example of this adaptability. Major systems, from the combat system to hull-control technologies, are being upgraded. Very few conventionally powered submarines can accommodate such a process without major redesign work.
In short, the Scorpène® does not age, it evolves.
 

From your experience at sea as the First Commanding Officer, what does it mean to serve on board a Scorpène®?

Life on board is defined by a remarkable and unprecedented level of automation and performance.
Many systems operate almost entirely autonomously, allowing the crew size to be reduced while concentrating all essential functions within the operations centre. The Commanding Officer therefore has a real-time overview of both the platform and the tactical situation, enabling faster and better-informed decisions.
This represented a major leap forward for both the Commanding Officer and the crew, reaching levels of performance and operational capability that had never been achieved before.
It also created an exceptional level of trust within the crew. When you go to rest, you know that the person taking over has full control of the submarine. Beyond that trust, serving on such a platform is a unique experience that is demanding, intense and a genuine source of pride.
As the submarine’s First Commanding Officer, the main challenge was
to instil in the crew the spirit of the Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins. That spirit ultimately became the driving force behind our efforts to make the Scorpène® the most advanced and capable submarine in the fleet.