Kockums - DCN co-operation in submarines

Kockums-DCN co-operation DCN and Kockums agree to co-operate in the field of submarine technologies Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) of France, represented by its export arm DCN International, and Celsius AB of Sweden, represented by the business unit Kockums Naval Systems (Kockums) have agreed to a technical co-operation in support of future submarine designs. The companies will continue to develop and market their respective state-of- the-art products Viking and Gotland in Kockums, Agosta 90B and Scorpene in DCN. The latter being jointly developed with E.N. Bazan. It is expected that the technical co-operation now to commence will enable the partnering companies to strengthen their leading edge of submarines design and construction. DCN and Kockums are confident that the combination of their respective competence in the field of diesel electric submarine design and construction will be successful in improving design methods and design features. The co-operation will bring together technical skills from both companies and will be open to co-operation with other parties as well. The co-operation will be managed through a jointly (fifty-fifty) owned and jointly staffed company located in France. The governments of France and Sweden have agreed to give their full support to this co-operation. DCN DCN is Europe´s leading naval contractor and shipbuilder. DCN´s expertise in the naval domain covers every demand of the world´s navies. DCN performs in- house design, development, construction, integration and maintenance for all kinds or surface vessels or submarines, from Nuclear Aircraft Carriers to patrol crafts, from Strategic Nuclear submarines to diesel electric ones. DCN also develops combat management systems for submarines and surface ships, as well as naval subsystems and weapons. In the submarine field DCN has developed eight classes of submarines since World War II, serving in five navies. DCN has notably built for the French Navy the "Redoutable" and "Triomphant" SSBN classes and the "Améthyste" SSN class and the Daphnés and Agosta diesel electric submarines, all of them being in service at present. On the export market DCN International, commercial arm of DCN has been awarded a contract for three Agosta 90-B diesel electric submarines for Pakistan, with their associated Combat System and Mesma Air Independent Propulsion system. In 1997, DCN has been awarded a contract for two submarines Scorpene type for Chile. The first of which is to be delivered in year 2003. DCN is thus the only nuclear submarine builder to be currently building diesel electric submarines. KOCKUMS Kockums forms the shipbuilding arm of Celsius AB, one of Europe´s largest defence companies. Kockums is an experienced and competent resource for design, development, constructions and maintenance of submarines and surface ships both for domestic and international requirements. In the last 40 years alone, quite unique technical evolution of the conventional submarine have been carried out by Kockums, resulting in the realisation of eight submarines classes, all state-of-the-art in their time. Presently Kockums has recently delivered the new submarine A19 Gotland with an Air Independent Propulsion system which is now operational with the Swedish Navy. Kockums is presently performing conceptual design studies for the Viking submarine project. Kockums long submarine experience and overall ability contributed significantly to the success in winning the worldwide competition for the Australian submarines, the Collins class - a Kockums design. Kockums now holds 49 % of the shares in Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) in Adelaide, the prime contractor for the construction of six large bluewater Collins class submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The first two submarines have been commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy. Kockums and ASC have throughout the Australian project developed a close co- operation. Kockums has also a very long experience in the design, development and construction of surface vessels which has lead to international contracts for mine hunters as one example. Today the stealth technology is one strong competence which will be further developed. For further information, please contact: DCN International:Kockums Naval Systems: Celsius AB: Rémi Calandra Hans Hedman Kjell Göthe Tel: +1 40 59 56 05 Tel: +46 40 34 83 80 Tel: +46 8 463 00 Fax: +1 40 59 54 42 Mobile: +46 70 833 42 59 Mobile: +46 70 583 95 44 Fax: +46 40 97 52 77 Fax: +46 8 463 00 96