Ecuadorian Navy to Modernize its Two Type 209 Submarines

Released on Friday, February 22, 2008

On 22 December 2007, DCNS signed two contracts with Chilean naval shipyard ASMAR � one to modernise the combat systems of two Ecuadorian Navy Type 209 submarines; the other to assist ASMAR with hull cutting to expedite the associated refits. The DCNS share in these contracts is worth more than €10 million. The contracts were signed following the Ecuadorian government's decision to award ASMAR a major contract to modernise and refit the submarines.

The combat system modernisation contract was signed by UDS International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the DCNS group. It calls for the replacement of the submarines' current German-designed combat systems by SUBTICS® (Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System) systems developed by DCNS.

The SUBTICS® configurations for the Ecuadorian submarines comprise a combat management system (CMS) supplied by DCNS and Chilean company SISDEF and interfaces with a Thales sonar suite and a new-generation torpedo system by WASS (. Thanks to its open modular architecture, SUBTICS® can be configured to suit all types of submarines and a wide range of operational needs.

"DCNS won its first contract to modernise the combat systems of an international customer's submarines in 1999. In 2004, the group won the '209 Turbot' contract to modernise the Chilean Navy's Type 209 boats, its first Type 209 modernisation contract. Since then, DCNS has won one combat system modernisation contract each year, making it the world leader in this market segment," said Executive Vice President & COO Bernard Planchais.

SUBTICS® systems have also been selected for an Agosta 90B programme for Pakistan and new-build Scorpene programmes for Chile, Malaysia and India.

DCNS, and more specifically teams from the group's Cherbourg shipyard, will provide technical assistance to cut the hulls of the two Ecuadorian Type 209 submarines in half so that their diesel engines and generators can be overhauled and replaced. This work will be undertaken at the ASMAR shipyard in Chile.