EUR 221M to Maintain CVN Charles de Gaulle, 2012-2016

De Gaulle battlegroup

In 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.

Rapid Fire Oct. 8, 2012: Iraq (Window?) Shopping in Russia

Last before Flight III

The US Navy commissioned USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) which will be homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Before the Navy restructured its surface combatant plans in 2009, the destroyer was expected to be the last of the Arleigh Burke class. John Finn (DDG 113) will start DDG-51 flight III.