DCNS Opens Office in Bogota, Pitches Gowind Corvette and Belh@rra Frigate to Colombia.

Inauguration of a new representative Office
DCNS, world leader in naval defence, is highly involved in the future Colombian naval programs, offering, with the support of the French State, attractive solutions to Colombia. By setting up a Representative Office in Colombia, DCNS aims to reinforce its partnership with the Colombian naval defense industry and its participation to the naval defense projects launched by the Colombian navy.

Olivier Michel, DCNS Latin America Vice President, declared: “With our new representative office in Bogota, DCNS is keen to be part of a strategic partnership with Colombia and its local industry. Thanks to its long and fruitful experience in cooperation and its expertise in systems integration and technology transfer, DCNS intends to bring technology and added-value know-how contributing to development and sovereignty of Colombia in naval defense field. DCNS is proud to already have a successful experience in Colombia with the Colombian navy through the Padilla frigates modernization program.”

As part of its naval ambitions, Colombia plans to acquire four frigates in order to address increasing threats in the region. Between 2009 and 2013, DCNS accomplished successfully the maintenance and upgrading of the Almirante Padilla-class frigates.

Participation in Colombiamar
At Colombiamar in Cartagena from 15th to 17th March, the Group showcases its state-of-theart products and solutions on its booth (61).

· The GOWIND® 2500 represents a new generation of multi-mission surface vessel, robust and well equipped, both in terms of electronics, weapons and projection capacities. Integrating DCNS SETIS® Combat Management System, she has a comprehensive Combat System for full-scale multi-threat missions, including a complete Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Air Warfare, and Anti- Surface Warfare suites. GOWIND® 2500 has already enjoyed a significant commercial success as 10 units were sold in 2013 and 2014 for the Malaysian Navy and the Egyptian Navy.

· Belh@rra, the new 4,000t frigate by DCNS is the new innovative and digital vessel imagined by DCNS. She benefits from the French Navy’s feedbacks and the FREMM frigate developments. She gets high-performances meeting the requirements of the French customer. Meanwhile, she will fit the needs of international Navies clients.

· SCORPENE® class submarines, already chosen by the Chilean, Royal Malaysian, Indian and Brazilian Navies, represent the state-of-the-art in submarine design and construction. Its new generation Fuel Cell Air Independent Propulsion allows ability to operate underwater for several weeks in safety and exceptional acoustic discretion.

· The MU90 lightweight torpedo is the sole new lightweight torpedo in the world. Designed and built with the most advanced technologies, the MU90 torpedo is capable to counter any type of submarine even acoustically coated, deep diving, fast evasive, deploying anti-torpedo effectors or bottomed in littoral areas.

· The F21 heavyweight torpedo is being developed in response to new and emerging operational challenges to offer the host submarine unrivalled dominance. The F21 has been selected for the next-generation Barracuda-type SSN fleet.

· DCNS offers CANTO® for submarines and surface ships, the latest anti-torpedo based on confusion/dilution principle.

· Last but not least, DCNS offers a wide range services, including assistance in the design of facilities, from naval base to shipyards, and in-support services during the entire lifecycle of both surface ships and submarines. These services stretch from the simplest order of spare parts to the in-service support of complete fleet. On top of current support operations, DCNS can carry out modernization and life extension programs to maintain fleet availability at optimal cost.

· DCNS also offers a complete set of courses and solutions designed to train all levels of naval and industrial personnel, from the start of a project through decommissioning and/or dismantling. Finally, DCNS proposes services in naval bases and shipyards from the Design, Engineering, Construction, and Operation to the maintenance of these infrastructures. This global offer is designed to help navies to maintain and expand their self-sufficiency within technology transfer programs.

· In a significantly changing operational context, naval forces are assigned new missions. DCNS meets this need and offers upgrade programmes for any vessel, designed by DCNS or not. These upgrades cover every aspect, platform, equipment, systems but also combat systems such as SETIS® and SUBTICS®.