DCN

From Free net encyclopedia

DCN is a naval defence company based in France and is one of Europe's leading shipbuilders.

1 History
2 Recent projects
3 Major projects
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

History

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

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

In 1997, the French government decided to reform its shipbuilding and procurement system of naval systems; it separated, on the one hand, the design and procurement, and, on the other hand, the industrial activities of the DCN. The DCN solely retained the industrial side.

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 government announced the project to transform DCN into a regular company.

[edit]

Recent projects

In 2002 DCN and Thales established the joint company Armaris to exploit their combined capabilities. This improves DCN's weapons systems portfolio and increases Thales' participation in shipbuilding. Armaris owns 50% of Horizon SAS, the development agency for the French/Italian Horizon frigate programme and 50% of EuroSysNav SAS, the prime 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, continuing the collaboration described above, DCN and Thales have announced they will share the role of prime contractor for the project.

[edit]