DCNS2006-07-24 15:26:56
Chevalier Paul launched
Franco-Italian Horizon programme
The Chevalier Paul, the second of two Horizon anti-air warfare (AAW) frigates for the French Navy, was ceremonially launched at DCN's Lorient shipyard on Wednesday 12 July 2006. The event was organised jointly by DCN and Horizon SAS. In addition to representatives of the main Horizon partners, the guests of honour included Laurent Giovachini, deputy director of French defence procurement agency DGA and director of weapon systems. The launch marks an important milestone in this Franco-Italian naval cooperation programme.
The DGA and NAVARM, the Horizon customers and contracting principals, appointed Horizon SAS, a joint subsidiary of Armaris and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, as the overall programme prime contractor. Armaris is a DCN/Thales joint venture and Orizzonte a Fincantieri/Finmeccanica joint venture.
Horizon frigates are designed to control the airspace over theatres of operations, provide anti-air cover for carrier groups and convoys and participate in public service missions.
As overall programme prime contractor, the Horizon SAS consortium awarded the design and shipbuilding contracts to DCN in France and Fincantieri in Italy. It then awarded the combat system prime contract to EuroSysnav, an Armaris/Finmeccanica joint venture drawing on the industrial resources of DCN, Finmeccanica and Thales.
The Horizon programme calls for the design and construction of four new-generation AAW frigates — two for the French Navy and two for the Italian Navy — and associated logistic support.
* French Horizon frigates Forbin and Chevalier Paul will replace AAW frigates Suffren and Duquesne.
* Italian Horizon frigates Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio will replace AAW frigates Ardito and Audace.
All four will be fitted with the PAAMS principal anti-air missile system developed jointly by France, Italy and the UK.
Major milestones:
* 8 April 2002: first plates cut for first French frigate
* 19 July 2002: first plates cut for first Italian frigate
* 19 September 2003: first plates cut for second Italian frigate
* 1st December 2003: first plates cut for second French frigate
* 10 March 2005: first French frigate launched
* 14 October 2005: first Italian frigate launched
* 12 July 2006: second French frigate launched.
The Horizon programme is setting a new standard in cooperation between the French and Italian naval contractors. Together, the countries have undertaken the joint development and construction of warships that are among their respective navies' most sophisticated. The programme also points to the shape of things to come as European naval shipbuilding evolves towards closer cooperation led by the industry majors.
The move towards closer cooperation was confirmed when Joint Armaments Cooperation Organisation OCCAR awarded co-prime contracts for the Franco-Italian FREMM multimission frigate programme to DCN/Thales subsidiary Armaris and Italian partner Orizzonte Sistemi Navali.
Franco-Italian Horizon programme
The Chevalier Paul, the second of two Horizon anti-air warfare (AAW) frigates for the French Navy, was ceremonially launched at DCN's Lorient shipyard on Wednesday 12 July 2006. The event was organised jointly by DCN and Horizon SAS. In addition to representatives of the main Horizon partners, the guests of honour included Laurent Giovachini, deputy director of French defence procurement agency DGA and director of weapon systems. The launch marks an important milestone in this Franco-Italian naval cooperation programme.
The DGA and NAVARM, the Horizon customers and contracting principals, appointed Horizon SAS, a joint subsidiary of Armaris and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, as the overall programme prime contractor. Armaris is a DCN/Thales joint venture and Orizzonte a Fincantieri/Finmeccanica joint venture.
Horizon frigates are designed to control the airspace over theatres of operations, provide anti-air cover for carrier groups and convoys and participate in public service missions.
As overall programme prime contractor, the Horizon SAS consortium awarded the design and shipbuilding contracts to DCN in France and Fincantieri in Italy. It then awarded the combat system prime contract to EuroSysnav, an Armaris/Finmeccanica joint venture drawing on the industrial resources of DCN, Finmeccanica and Thales.
The Horizon programme calls for the design and construction of four new-generation AAW frigates — two for the French Navy and two for the Italian Navy — and associated logistic support.
* French Horizon frigates Forbin and Chevalier Paul will replace AAW frigates Suffren and Duquesne.
* Italian Horizon frigates Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio will replace AAW frigates Ardito and Audace.
All four will be fitted with the PAAMS principal anti-air missile system developed jointly by France, Italy and the UK.
Major milestones:
* 8 April 2002: first plates cut for first French frigate
* 19 July 2002: first plates cut for first Italian frigate
* 19 September 2003: first plates cut for second Italian frigate
* 1st December 2003: first plates cut for second French frigate
* 10 March 2005: first French frigate launched
* 14 October 2005: first Italian frigate launched
* 12 July 2006: second French frigate launched.
The Horizon programme is setting a new standard in cooperation between the French and Italian naval contractors. Together, the countries have undertaken the joint development and construction of warships that are among their respective navies' most sophisticated. The programme also points to the shape of things to come as European naval shipbuilding evolves towards closer cooperation led by the industry majors.
The move towards closer cooperation was confirmed when Joint Armaments Cooperation Organisation OCCAR awarded co-prime contracts for the Franco-Italian FREMM multimission frigate programme to DCN/Thales subsidiary Armaris and Italian partner Orizzonte Sistemi Navali.
For more information contact:
19-21 Rue Du Colonel Pierre Avia
BP 403 (Le Mourillon)
TOULON CEDEX
83055
France
Tel: +33 4 98 039 949
Fax: +33 4 98 039 288