L'Invincible - Future French Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine

I took advantage of the Christmas holidays to finish a personal project that I had started several weeks ago as a hobby, with a quick sketch after watching my favorite submarine movie (USS Alabama, not to mention it by name).

My idea was to draw the French future generation of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, the SNLE 3G class currently under construction. The first model, which will replace the Triomphant, had its first sheet metal cut in March 2024. It is scheduled to enter service in 2035 and remain in service until... 2075-2080. This is what we call “long-term” weapons programs!

I decided to show you this SNLE 3G shortly afterit was launched into the cold waters off Brest, off the coast of Ile Longue. I drew a lot of inspiration from the superb photos taken by the French Navy to create this illustration and, above all, to achieve a realistic rendering of the surfaces of such a ship (everything is wet, but not in the same way) as well as the movement of the water around a hull traveling at full speed!

I hope you like it!