DCNS to participate in NATO Ballistic Missile Defence

DCNS will participate in the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence system engineering and integration, as part of an industrial team led by Leidos, the company said in a press release issued on 6 March.

DCNS will be subject to a firm-fixed-price contract with a four-year base period of performance, two one-year extension options and an eight-month option. The total contract value is $77 million with all options exercised.

As part of its new role, DCNS will contribute to the specification, definition, integration and testing of NATO Ballistic Missile Defence architectures.

NATO aims to integrate its current and future national weapon systems, sensors, command and control systems with the NATO Battle Management Command Control Communications and Intelligence system. The industrial team will help achieve this by defining, specifying, testing and verifying architectures and requirements with an integration test bed.

Pierre Legros, senior vice president, programmes, DCNS, said: 'DCNS is the prime contractor for the FREMM frigates - the most technologically advanced combat ships on the market - two of which will be dedicated to air and missile defence for the French Navy, and for the Horizon Frigates Combat Management System maintenance.

'These frigates are strong candidates to contribute to the future NATO Ballistic Missile Defence architectures.'

The industrial team includes Leidos, Aselsan, Boeing, DCNS, Parsons, QinetiQ, RIMPAC, Thales and TMS.