| Type | société anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defence |
| Founded | 1631 |
| Founder(s) | Cardinal de Richelieu |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Area served | Naval Defence Industry |
| Products | Patrol Vessels, Corvettes, Frigates, Destroyers, LHD, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines (SSK, SSN, SSBN) |
| Revenue | € 2.406 billion in 2009 |
| Owner(s) | France: 73,98% Thales: 25% FCPE Actions DCNS: 1,01% DCNS Actionnarat: <0,01% |
| Employees | 13,000 worldwide |
| Website | http://www.dcnsgroup.com |
DCNS (formerly the Direction Technique des Constructions Navales and the Direction des Constructions Navales) is a naval defence company based in France and is one of Europe's leading shipbuilders.
The group designs, builds and supports surface combatants, submarines, systems and equipments. DCNS is also expanding into new markets in civil nuclear energy, marine renewable energy and naval and industrial services.
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DCNS has a heritage of 350 years. Major shipyards were built in France in Ruelle (1751), Nantes-Indret (1771), Lorient (1778) and, subsequently, in Cherbourg (1813). Others were to follow. As early as 1926, what we know as DCNS today already had all the facilities now owned by the Group in mainland France.
The acronym DCN has been replaced by the brand DCNS.
Apart from the issues surrounding the sale of ships to Taiwan mentioned above, French prosecutors started investigating a wide range of corruption charges in 2010 involving different submarine sales, with possible bribery and kickbacks to top officials in France. In particular interest by the prosecutors are sales of Scorpène submarines to countries like India and Malaysia.[3] The investigation in Malaysia has been prompted by human rights group Suaram as it involved current Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak when he was defence minister and his friend Abdul Razak Baginda[4] whose company Primekar was alleged to be paid a huge commission during the purchase of two Scorpène submarines.[5] French investigators are interested in the fact that Perimekar was formed only a few months before the contract was signed with the Malaysian government and DCNS and that Primekar had no track record in servicing submarines and did not have the financial capability to support the contract.[6]
DCNS has its head office in Paris, France. It has production and engineering sites in mainland France in Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient, Nantes-Indret, Ruelle, Toulon and Saint-Tropez.
It has subsidiaries in Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. DCNS also has offices in Chile, Greece, Italy and Pakistan.
These frigates are designed to provide anti-air cover for carrier groups and local or extended cover against saturation missile attacks in severe electromagnetic environments. They feature anti-air weapons, including tens of Aster missiles in Sylver vertical launchers. The combat system includes a hull-mounted sonar, the SLAT anti-torpedo system, anti-ship missiles, lightweight torpedoes and an electronic warfare suite.
Horizon frigates are designed to accommodate a heavy helicopter (NH90, EH 101 or similar) and to conduct flight operations under a wide range of conditions. The French and Italian navies have ordered two Horizon frigates each.
FREMM is the most recent generation of European frigates.
A 4000-ton frigate design that is offered in four different configurations [7]
The Charles de Gaulle, in service since late 2000, carries up to 40 aircraft — including Rafale multi-role combat aircraft and Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft — which can be launched at a rate of one every 30 seconds.
The automated Senit combat management system (CMS) controls all weapon systems, including the ship’s Aster self-defence missiles. The communications suite includes Link 16 tactical datalinks for interoperability with NATO forces.
The Mistral class is a class of three amphibious assault ships, also known as a helicopter carrier, of the French Navy. Russia has announced its intention to purchase one such vessel.
The Redoutable class submarine is a ballistic missile submarine class of the French Marine Nationale . The first submarine, Redoutable, was ordered in 1963, built at Cherbourg, launched in 1967 and commissioned in 1971. The sixth, and last, Inflexible was retired in 2008.
A new class of nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines, the largest ever built in France. Four ships make up the class, Triomphant, Téméraire, Vigilant and Terrible.
The Barracuda program is scheduled to replace the Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SNA) with six new-generation submarines, providing the French navy with a powerful asset for the control of maritime areas and the projection of naval power. The first Barracuda-class submarine will be delivered in 2017, and the subsequent vessels will be delivered at the rate of one every two years. The six new submarines will be christened Suffren, Duguay-Trouin, Dupetit-Thouars, Duquesne, Tourville and De Grasse.
The Agosta 90B, also known as the Khalid Class, is a modernised design built for the Pakistan Navy. Various modifications give lower acoustic signature, lower diving depth, improved battery range and performance. Greater automation also allows the crew to be reduced from 54 to 36. The submarine can be armed with up to 16 torpedoes and SM39 Exocet anti-ship anti-ship missiles.[8] The SM39 was test-fired from a Khalid-class submarine in 2001.[9] - PNS/M Khalid (S137) - built in France by DCN Cherbourg, completed in 1999 - PNS/M Saad (S138) - built in Pakistan with French assistance, completed in 2002 - PNS/M Hamza (S139) - built in Pakistan, commissioned 14 August 2006
The Chilean Navy ordered two Scorpène. The Chilean Scorpène class O'Higgins and Carrera were completed in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and are currently in operation.[10] The Royal Malaysian Navy ordered two while the Indian Navy ordered six (see the section on #Corruption charges above). All Indian boats will be built in India at Mazagon Dock Limited. In 2009, the Brazilian Navy ordered four Scorpene. A fifth hull has been ordered to be fitted with an indigenously developed nuclear propulsion plant.
Equipped with the MESMA air-independent propulsion system, a Scorpene can remain submerged for periods in excess of 3 weeks.
Suited to special operations or information-gathering assignments. No Andrasta has yet been ordered.
In December 2010, DCNS presented a design for a multipurpose support vessel (and replenishment tanker) called BRAVE, for Bâtiment RAVitailleur d'Escadre.[11]