Article Posted on : - Nov 15, 2010

PARIS (BNS): French naval company DCNS and Navantia of Spain will no longer work together to produce the Scorpene conventional diesel-electric attack submarine as the two companies have decided to go their separate ways in undersea warfare.

"DCNS and Navantia have put an end to their disagreement concerning their submarine collaboration," DCNS said in a statement on Friday. "As a result, the arbitration procedure between them will be terminated."

The French company has now taken over the sole rights to build and sell the Scorpene, while Navantia will work on its S80 submarine, a DefenceNews report said.

"Scorpene submarines will from now on be built and marketed by DCNS. Similarly, S80 submarines will be built and marketed by Navantia." "Neither party will make any further comments," the report quoting the statement said.

According to the report, relations between DCNS and Navantia deteriorated after the Spanish company launched its program to build the S80 submarine, which is equipped with a combat management system from Lockheed Martin.

The two former partners shared development and construction of the Scorpene submarine. Large subsections were built in their respective yards in Cherbourg, northern France, and Cartegna, Spain, which were then assembled and delivered to export customers.

India, Brazil, Chile and Malaysia are customers for the Scorpene submarine.