Regarding France choice to own a nuclear submarines fleet, I don't think the objective is to project our force anywhere - let's be honest which EU country can really do it with their defense budget ? Anyway it's not even our will.
No, France needs nuclear attack submarines to protect our commercial routes and SSBN submarines which carry our nuclear arsenal, because our defense doctrine is still based on nuclear deterrence. If an hostile country wants to invade or strike France, they know France 'will' use nuclear missiles as a counter-attack or a preventive measure.
Also, remember that we had nuclear missiles bases located in France during the Cold War which are no longer existing. So as the threat has moved away, our defence doctrine had to adapt and can only be assumed by a mobile and stealth submarine nuclear force.
It's the sword of Damocles over any hostile nation and ofc I really hope we will never use this nuclear force.
About the Astute/Virginia comparison, I have no opinion as 99% of the facts are kept secret
But well I bet on the UK as they 'are' in Europe
and I'm a UE supporter
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And please don't kid yourselves folks when it comes to Nukes vs. SSKs. The simple fact is that the US, USSR, UK and France take the nuke route because they can. The modern SSK is a result of governments that can't afford nukes but wanted a modern submarine force that can hold it's own in coastal opns.
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That's totally true imo