Jean-Michel Palagos; CEO of DCI, and Julia Maris, VP of DCI, look over Henri Rouby, Executive Vice President of DCI-AIRCO, (at left) and Merry Michaux, Vice President for Thales’s military aerospace support and services business, signing their EW partnership contract at Le Bourget on last 17 June. ©Thales
Once more Defense Conseil International (DCI) took part in the Paris Air Show exhibiting its skills and services which include consultancy and assistance as well as a large gammut of training syllabuses in engineering academic, operational and technical fields. Closely linked to operators of French-built military hardware (aircraft, ships, tanks and more), DCI acts as a fully tailored support companion throughout the lifecycle of many defence programmes. DCI thus has developed over the years many partnerships with the national industry as well as with the French Armed Forces.
On 17 June 2015 at Le Bourget, Thales, the number one French defence electronic company, has taken advantage of the 51st Paris Air Show to announce, a close partnership with Defense Conseil International to deliver high-level training in electronic warfare to foreign students and operators. Through this partnership, the two companies will combine their skills to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions to even better meet the needs and expectations of military customers around the world to learn and improve their skills in this particularly sensitive field. Mainly intended for operators of hi-tech French military equipment — on aircraft, sea vessels, radar stations and more — this venture in EW training is very novel.
For that purpose, Thales and DCI have developed a catalogue of common training modules focusing on the various aspects of electronic warfare (EW) today. Thales will contribute its technical expertise, particularly as the French company already develops, delivers and supports state-of-the-art EW systems for some fifty countries around the world. Thales also designs EW simulators and provides training in the use and maintenance of these systems worldwide.
On its part, DCI will contribute its operational expertise through the supply of EW specialists, largely drawn from the French Armed Forces. Since 1985, DCI experts have been delivering training using latest educational software, interactive simulation tools and practical laboratory exercises combined with visits to specialist units of the French armed forces. Courses are designed to familiarise trainees with the relevant work methods and help them make the best possible use of their own EW equipment, both for training exercises and operational deployments. DCI and its subsidiaries have been partners of the French Armed Forces for ten years within the scope of service contracts and are keen to extend their services to other European Union countries.
“We share a common vision with Thales and its teams and together we have developed a highly efficient approach to training, based on the combination of French excellence in electronic warfare technologies and operations,” says Henri Rouby, Executive Vice President of DCI-AIRCO. “I believe that our innovative and integrated training solutions will be a key differentiator and will enable the French team to constantly meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.” Merry Michaux, Vice President for Thales’s military aerospace support and services business, added: “Our complementary skills and flexible approach will ensure our customers benefit from real technical and operational efficiency as they seek to maximise their electronic warfare capabilities. Thales’ presence in 56 countries and close working relations with operational armed forces personnel will further extend the partnership’s international reach to better serve customers and meet their specific national requirements.”
Let’s recall here that DCI is culturally close to the French Ministry of Defence, its main mission being to transfer knowledge and know-how from the French Armed Forces to countries with which France maintains friendly relations. In the very unforthcoming case of EW training, DCI can openly rely on the French Armed Forces and the dedicated Escadron de Programmation et d’Instruction en Guerre Électronique (ÉPIGÉ) 07.330 based in Mont-de-Marsan, a French Air Force unit which certainly holds one of the deepest knowledge in EW, thanks to the huge collection of electronic signals French EW aircraft and vessels have gathered around the world, at sea, on the ground and in the air over the years, in combat and non combat zones.
By Jean-Michel Guhl
