DCNS is taking part in ICAUV 2009 (International Conference on Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles) in Bangalore, India, on 3 and 4 April. ICAUV 2009 is the largest international event entirely dedicated to these capabilities. DCNS will showcase its Gowind-class corvettes and offshore patrol vessels, optimised to deploy unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
DCNS has designed a new family of offshore vessels in the 1,000 to 2,500 tonne class called Gowind, specially optimised for the operational deployment of UAVs, particularly light rotorcraft.
With innovations such as a 360° panoramic surveillance bridge, single central mast, tailored communication system, ample payload capacity (in containers or under fixed covers) and onboard recovery & handling systems, these vessels are ideal for UAV operations. DCNS will present these innovations in detail at ICAUV 2009.
The Gowind family of vessels is designed to provide naval forces with a state-of-the-art capability to meet the demands of new and emerging missions, from anti-piracy to sea control and denial: combat, counter-terrorism, drug interdiction and anti-smuggling operations, oil and gas platform protection, search & rescue, fisheries protection, environmental protection and humanitarian support. Deployment of UAVs allows for permanent surveillance of extended zones for these types of missions, with low operating cost per flight hour.
DCNS was the first company in the world to conduct automatic deck landing trials with a UAV on a frigate at sea. The company has capitalised on this experience to perfect the physical and functional integration of UAVs on the Gowind family of vessels. DCNS has also drawn on its expertise in the deployment of both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft from carriers and frigates.
DCNS is committed to delivering innovative and dependable solutions for the operational deployment of autonomous unmanned vehicles from surface combatants and submarines. The contribution of UAVs to the success of maritime missions as well as land-based operations is widely recognised today.
The DCNS Group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, the Group draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture and systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support. The DCNS Group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of around EUR 2.8 billion.
