PARIS, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- French shipbuilder DCNS has commissioned a shore-based integration facility for testing the combat systems of submarines it's building for the Brazilian navy.
The dedicated facility to test these processing systems before they are installed on board the submarines is located at the French defense procurement agency's Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer center near Toulon, the company said.
"The completion of this innovative facility is testimony to the strong and continuing cooperation between DCNS and the Brazilian navy under a technology transfer agreement spanning submarine design, development and construction," DCNS said in announcing the test center.
"The equipment making up the combat systems of the first Scorpene SSKs [conventional propelled submarine] will now be integrated and interfaced with the shore integration facility in a technical configuration similar to the one planned for the submarines themselves."
The combat system is the submarine's central nervous system, helping to analyze the theater of operations and deploy the vessel's weapon systems. DCNS said equipment making up the combat systems of the first Scorpene SSKs will now be integrated and interfaced with the shore integration facility in a technical configuration similar to the one planned for the submarines themselves.
Joint DCNS/Brazilian navy teams will test combat systems for Brazil's Scorpene SSKs while training Brazilian officers and crew in accordance with a technology transfer agreement for the next two years. Later, the system will be sent to Brazil.
DCNS is building for submarines, as well as shore-based infrastructure, for Brazil.
