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

Contents 1 History 2 Recent projects 3 Major projects 3.1 Propulsion 3.2 Surface Vessels 3.3 Submarines 3.4 Weapons systems 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

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.

In 2002 DCN and Thales established the joint company Armaris to exploit their combined capabilities. This collaboration has 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 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.

• WR-21 Advanced gas turbine

• Clemenceau class aircraft carriers:
  • Clemenceau, launched in 1957
  • Foch, launched in 1960, later to serve with Brazil as São Paulo
• Foudre class landing platform docks:
  • Foudre, launched in 1988
  • Siroco, launched in 1996
• Charles De Gaulle, launched in 1992, France's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
• PA2 (Porte Avions 2) Future carrier - Proposed/under development
• Horizon class frigates:
  • Forbin, launched in 2005
  • Chevalier Paul, launched in 2006
• La Fayette class frigate and derivatives:
  • Al Riyahd (F3000S Sawari II) class frigates (Saudi Arabia)
  • Formidable class frigates (Singapore)
  • Kang Ding class frigates (Taiwan)

Note: the nuclear power plants of the nuclear submarines are designed and maintained by the Direction of military application of CEA.

• Améthyste class SSN
• Barracuda class SSNs (Next generation SSN)
• Triomphant class SSBNs
• Scorpene class SSKs
• Agosta 90B class SSKs

• SYLVER launchers
• Flight deck systems
• Submarine AAW
• Torpedoes

• Ship-building

• DCN website

• (English) Annual Report 2004. DCN website. Retrieved on August 9, 2005.
• (French) Cour des Comptes, Les industries d'armement de l'État, chapter 4, 2001