Gowind Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)

GOWIND class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) designed and built by DCNS as a company funded program is leading the company’s vision of future maritime safety & security (MSS) and counter-piracy vessels.

The lead ship of this class, L’Adroit has a length of 87 metres, an at-sea endurance of 3 weeks and a range of 8,000 nautical miles. With a top speed of 21 knots, the vessel has a helicopter flight deck accommodating a vertical take-off and landing (Schiebel S-100) supporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations. It is designed for reduced crewing, with a complement of 30 and space for 30 passengers.

 The ship features a number of major innovations for navies, commandos and coastguards: 360° panoramic visibility from the bridge, a single integrated mast for 360° radar coverage, covert deployment of fast commando boats in less than 5 minutes and provision for UAVs and USVs (unmanned surface vehicles). The vessel is also equipped with teleconferencing facilities and long-range acoustic devices.

In addition to its autonomous operation at sea, GOWIND class ships are also designed with network enabled information technology extending area surveillance and control through shore-based control centers and other networked ships, sharing workload and mission data to automatically detect suspicious behavior by ships and other craft.

L’Adroit was handed over to the French Navy on October 21, 2011 for a period of three years. The vessel will be under the command of Captain Loïc Guyot, while remaining the property of DCNS. With two French Navy crews rotating every four months, L’Adroit is expected to offer a high level of at-sea availability, spending 220 days a year on operational missions performing maritime security missions including fisheries surveillance, counter-piracy, drug interdiction, environmental protection, humanitarian aid, and search & rescue.

In September 2011 DCNS and KND have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the promotion, construction and sale of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) in South Africa. The purpose of the agreement is to win new OPV contracts, first in South Africa and subsequently in other sub-Saharan African nations. KND operates industrial facilities at the Simon’s Town naval dockyard, near Cape Town. The company has full proficiency with the production methods associated with this type of vessel and is currently building six fast patrol boats for a West African nation.


Thanks to - DCNS

First Scorpene submarine would be ready by 2014: French envoy

The first of the six Scorpene submarines ordered by the Indian Navy from French firm DCNS in 2005, as part of the technology transfer between the two countries, will be rolled out by 2014, France's top diplomat in India said today.

"The first submarine would be ready by 2014, heralding an important and strategic tie-up between both the nations on the defence front", said Francois Richier, Ambassador of France in India, adding the rest of five submarines would be delivered every subsequent year.

"Such kind of submarines are important for Indian Navy considering the long coast it has to guard", he said.

Richier is in Goa to visit French Destroyer 'FNS Montcalm' which is here as the part of training exercises with the Indian Navy.

The six Scorpenes are being constructed at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) in Mumbai under Project-75 under technology transfer from French firm DCNS.

The government approval for construction of the six submarines was accorded in September 2005 at a total cost of Rs 18,798 crore and the contract was signed in October that year.

The project cost was revised to Rs 23,562 crore in February 2010, along with revision in delivery schedule.

"The induction of Scorpene submarines would enhance Indian Navy's capabilities to conduct exercises in the open sea. These are the last generation of conventional submarines", a senior French naval officer said.

Designed for coastal defence against under-water threats, the 1,750-tonne submarine-submarine-killer (SSK) Scorpene is 67 meters in length and can dive to a depth of 300 meters. Ccording to French naval officials, the submarine can stay at sea for 45 days with a crew of 31.

The standard version has six torpedo tubes and anti-shipping missile launchers.

DCNS to unveil new FREMM Frigate variant, updated BRAVE supply ship design at Euronaval 2012

At the 23rd EURONAVAL show to be held from 22 to 26 October 2012 at the Paris-le Bourget exhibition center, DCNS will unveil several new designs of submarines and surface vessels. Among them are the new FREMM-ER (for Extend Range) Frigate dedicated to Air Defense missions and an updated design for the BRAVE replenishment ship which was first unveiled two years ago at Euronaval 2010.

                         

The FREMM-ER was designed with a focus on Air Defense and possibly Anti Ballistic Missile Defense. The hull and general platform of the vessel is almost identical to the French Navy's and DCNS' FREMM class. However the two masts (Herakles radar and electronic warfare) found on the current FREMM (such as the Aquitaine frigate) is replaced by a new radar by Thales called SF 500 (or Sea Fire 500). The new Thales radar seems to be similar in concept to the Lockheed Martin's AEGIS - AN/SPY-1D multi-function phased-array radar system with its four fixed arrays noticeable on all 4 sides of the main mast.

Contacted by Navy Recognition DCNS and Thales representatives would not give details on the new radar system, explaining details would be made public during Euronaval. Regarding the vessel itself however, DCNS told us that a FREMM-ER would be able to fulfill the exact same missions as the current FREMM. Indeed, FREMM-ER has the same multi-mission capabilities as FREMM, in particular extensions capability can be installed on FREMM-ER such as:

FREMM-ER's CIC (Combat Information Center) shares the same characteristics as the CIC found on FREMM:

- Large workstations

- Multipurpose Consoles

- Modular configuration

The SETIS modular CMS (Combat Management System) developed by DCNS and the CIC area can implement new and future innovations as they become mature. In FREMM-ER, sailors for example will be able to use augmented reality in the fight against asymmetric threats.

                         

At the 23rd EURONAVAL show to be held from 22 to 26 October 2012 at the Paris-le Bourget exhibition center, DCNS will unveil several new designs of submarines and surface vessels. Among them are the new FREMM-ER (for Extend Range) Frigate dedicated to Air Defense missions and an updated design for the BRAVE replenishment ship which was first unveiled two years ago at Euronaval 2010.

The new BRAVE replenishment tanker and support vessel. Note the new inverted bow design.

                         

DCNS presented during Euronaval 2010 its new-generation underway replenishment tanker and support vessel named BRAVE (Bâtiment RAVitailleur d'Escadre).

At Euronaval 2012, DCNS will be showing an updated design for the BRAVE class. As you can see in the images above and below, most of the redisgn work has been focused on the bow and stern of the ship. The bow is now inverted for better sea-keapping and there is now only one helicopter spot while the previous design had space for two helicopter spots. The sole spot is still able to accomodate heavy helicopters however (35 t). There is still space for two helicopters in the hangar.

Developped in association with STX-France (based on the same principles that made the BPC Mistral class a success), the design should answer French Navy needs to replace the Durance class. BRAVE will also be available to international customers.

                         

At the 23rd EURONAVAL show to be held from 22 to 26 October 2012 at the Paris-le Bourget exhibition center, DCNS will unveil several new designs of submarines and surface vessels. Among them are the new FREMM-ER (for Extend Range) Frigate dedicated to Air Defense missions and an updated design for the BRAVE replenishment ship which was first unveiled two years ago at Euronaval 2010.

Artist impression of a BRAVE vessel underway replenishing a FREMM frigate and an Aircraft Carrier

The BRAVE main missions include:

» Refuel and support all types of vessels at sea (Aircraft carriers, large & small surface vessels, submarines);

» Support force projection operations;

» Command and control of maritime operations;

» Support humanitarian operations.

The vessel's defense system is designed to be modular and can be adatped to customer requirements.

For more details on the FREMM-ER, Thales Sea Fire 500 radar, the new BRAVE design and other new developments by DCNS, make sure to check Navy Recognition's Euronaval 2012 online coverage from 22 to 26 October 2012.

DCNS wins €221m support contract for Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier

DCNS has signed a contract with the French Navy’s Fleet Support Service (SSF) to provide through-life support services over the next four years for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

The contract calls for comprehensive through-life support services through until mid-2016, including three layups, ensuring the vessel’s operational availability.

                         

DCNS has signed a contract with the French Navy’s Fleet Support Service (SSF) to provide through-life support services over the next four years for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

                         

The contract is based on firm commitments to service quality and technical performance. DCNS guarantees the Navy high levels of safety and security and strong technical support. The Group also contractually guarantees the availability of specific shipboard systems. The contract comes under the Navy’s availability-based procurement policy.

In addition to further demonstrating the Group’s expertise in through-life support services for nuclear-powered warships, this contract reflects the mutual confidence between the French Navy and DCNS.

DCNS & TERMA combine their expertise to multiply the operational capabilities of L'Adroit OPV

Designed and built by DCNS in less than 24 months, if the Gowind® OPV L’Adroit is a major industrial and technological achievement, Terma also made a commitment to deliver an affordable but highly capable radar package to DCNS within a very short timeframe.

As a selected partner for the programme, the company installed its surveillance radars on board L’Adroit. From that time, the two SCANTER systems are used in operational conditions, providing the ship with a comprehensive situational awareness capability.

                         

The SCANTER radars, sharing a single 10 ft high gain antenna mounted inside the single integrated mast, deliver complementary capabilities to ensure gapless surface and air coverage:

The TWT-based SCANTER 4102 provides excellent medium range surveillance in both the air and surface channels, with the capability to track large aircraft at ranges out to 80-90 nautical miles;

while the solid-state SCANTER 6002 performs near, low air and surface surveillance to support navigation, helicopter control, search and rescue, or surface vessel interdiction.

Developed by DCNS, the single integrated mast equipped by the two radars is one of the most significant innovations of the Gowind® OPV L’Adroit. Its see-through composite cone provides the sensors with an optimal visibility and multiplies the ship‘s operational capabilities.

                         

Designed and built by DCNS in less than 24 months, if the Gowind® OPV L’Adroit is a major industrial and technological achievement, Terma also made a commitment to deliver an affordable but highly capable radar package to DCNS within a very short timeframe.

L'Adroit Offshore Patrol Vessel

                         

Terma’s preferred position on board L’Adroit reflects the continuing strong relationship between the company and DCNS, which goes back to the supply of the SCANTER 2001 radar for the Project Delta export frigate programme. SCANTER 2001 has also been specified for the new Aquitaine class FREMM multi-mission frigates being built by DCNS for the French Navy.