Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS) is a naval defence company based in France and is one of Europe's leading shipbuilders.

History

During the Second World War, the French government had its military ships designed and built by the Direction des constructions navales (DCN), later incorporated into the military procurement agency Délégation générale pour l'armement (DGA).

In the 1990s, scandals erupted around management and accounting practices inside DCN. In naval arsenals such as that of Toulon, corruption and mismanagement of funds were discovered; high-level military officers and engineers were charged and put on trial. A 2001 report by the Cour des Comptes denounced haphazard accounting and handling of inventory.

In 1997, the French government decided to reform its shipbuilding and procurement system for naval systems. Design and procurement were separated from production. DCN retained the industrial part.

In 2000, DCN was transformed into a national service under the direct responsibility of the Minister of Defence, no longer under DGA. In 2001 the French government announced plans to transform DCN into a private company.

In 2002, DCN and Thales established the joint company Armaris to exploit their combined capabilities. This collaboration improved DCN's weapons systems portfolio and increased Thales' business in shipbuilding. Armaris owns 50% of Horizon SAS, the development agency for the French/Italian Horizon frigate programme and 50% of EuroSysNav SAS, the primary contractor for the Horizon's combat system (including DCN's SYLVER launcher). Thales is at present working with BAE Systems on the contract for the Royal Navy's Future Carrier (CVF) and submitted a bid for the future French carrier in competition with DCN. However, in June 2002 DCN and Thales extended their collaboration by announcing that they will share the role of primary contractor for the French carrier project.

On 29 March 2007, DCN and Thales finalised an agreement with the French government and consolidated their naval activities in France. DCN acquired all of Thales' French naval business, excluding its equipment activities, and became the sole shareholder of Armaris and MOPA2. Simultaneously, Thales acquired a 25% stake in DCN along with the French government, which retained a 75% stake.

On 4 April 2007, the newly-merged company unveiled itself as DCNS.

Subsidiaries and offices

DCNS has its headoffice in Paris, France. It has subsidiaries in India Italy and Singapore. In future it plans to have subsidiaries in Brazil, Bulgaria, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Dcns also has offices in Greece and Pakistan.

Major projects

Propulsion

• WR-21 Advanced gas turbine

Surface vessels

• Clemenceau class aircraft carriers:

• * Clemenceau,

• * Foch, , later to serve with Brazil as São Paulo

• Foudre class landing platform docks:

• * Foudre,

• * Siroco,

• Charles De Gaulle, , France's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

• PA2 (Porte Avions 2) Future carrier - Proposed/under development

• Horizon class frigates:

• * Forbin,

• * Chevalier Paul,

• La Fayette class frigate and derivatives:

• *Al Riyahd (F3000S Sawari II) class frigates (Saudi Arabia)

• *Formidable class frigates (Singapore)

• *Kang Ding class frigates (Taiwan)

Submarines

• Améthyste class SSN

• Barracuda class SSNs (Next generation SSN)

• Triomphant class SSBNs

• Scorpène class SSKs

• Agosta 90B class SSKs

• Marlin

Weapons systems

• SYLVER launchers

• Flight deck systems

• Submarine AAW

• Torpedoes

Concepts

• Swordship class Warship

• Andrasta class submarine

See also

• Ship-building

• Navantia