EUR 221M to Maintain CVN Charles de Gaulle, 2012-2016
Oct 08, 2012 18:51 UTCIn late 2012, DCNS signed an EUR 221 million contract with the French Navy’s Fleet Support Service (SSF) for another 4 years of support services to France’s lone aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered FS Charles de Gaulle [R 91]. The ship is currently deployed in the Mediterranean, where it has been conducting exercises with the Italian and British navies, and qualifying the AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile on France’s Rafale fighter.
The contract period until mid-2016 will be busy, including 3 layups for maintenance and refits. The ship completed its major overhaul in 2007-2009, including its mid-life reactor refueling, but less drastic overhauls are still required periodically. The DCNS contract is based on firm commitments to service quality and technical performance, including contract guarantees for the availability percentage of specific shipboard systems. DCNS.