Défense conseil international

DCI's activities

DCI operates in all the areas of expertise of the French Armed Forces, and in close relation with them.

Navy

The main mission of DCI's naval component is to transmit the know-how of the French Navy to friendly foreign navies. Made up of navy personnel in active service or recently retired as well as civilian operational experts, the DCI teams have acquired unique experience over more than 35 years to the benefit of numerous partner navies, as well as a broad range of expertise. DCI can thus intervene at all stages of a naval program, whether in a context of equipment sales, for the supply of specific operational training services, or for equipment sales support. The scope of application covers, among other thing, the following areas: naval, submarine, naval/air, maritime security, diving and special forces.

Land Forces

The primary mission of the ground component of the DCI is to confer French Army and gendarmerie know-how to friendly foreign armies. It offers services bearing the “forces armées françaises”French Armed Forces label, and which are adapted to the needs of each nation. Made up of military personnel in active service or recently retired as well as civilian experts in the defense and domestic security sectors, the DCI teams have acquired unique experience since 1972 with more than 30 countries, companies and international institutions.

Air

The primary vocation of the air component of the Défense Conseil International group is to confer the know-how of the French Air Force to foreign air forces. From designing air operations to implementing the most complex systems, DCI provides high-level know-how that is constantly being updated based on experience from actual operations performed by the French Air Force.

For more than 30 years, with the support of the French Air Force and/or in cooperation with major aerospace industry players, DCI has implemented user-to-user partnerships adapted to the operational requirements of each country, and bearing the "Armée de l'air française" French Air Force label. The Institut Français de Sécurité Aérienne (IFSA) is part of the aeronautics component of DCI.

Armament

The Armament branch of DCI is based directly on the know-how of the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) of the French Ministry of Defense.

DCI relies on highly qualified teams from the DGA and the French armament industrial sector. Its expertise includes all that is necessary for carrying out and monitoring armament programs.

Thus, drawing upon its 25 years of experiences, DCI trains, advises and supports numerous countries in the process of acquiring complex arms systems. DCI provides its know-how primarily in monitoring the implementation of acquisition contracts in terms of contractual technical milestones, quality, scheduling, system qualification and acceptance of equipment and systems.

Cyber Defense

Within its Cyber Defense Management Institute (CDMI) training center, DCI offers training options including academic and personalized courses, as well as operational exercises and training.

The CDMI is well-equipped with human and technical resources, notably a complete platform allowing participants to access realistic environments and scenarios. The operational training programs are the result of significant research and development. They include the most recent adaptations and integrations of military operating processes: command chain, technical chain, and operation preparation and conduct.

DCI also relies on the Pôle d’Excellence Cyberdéfense to develop its academic training courses, drawing on technical tools which are representative of the company environment. The cyber defense training courses cover prevention and protection, incident detection and management, and responses and interventions.

Helicopters

DCI has significant involvement in helicopter service activities. For more than 30 years, DCI has been able to coach new users through helicopter training to optimize and accelerate the operational commissioning of their new helicopters. DCI can also support the helicopters throughout their lifecycle, in coordination with the manufacturers. DCI has regularly and sustainably deployed air-land experts in several countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia to provide technical support to helicopter fleets as well as for ab initio and tactical training of operational crews.

DCI offers a large range of services in the areas of ground ("aérocombat"), air and maritime helicopter use.

Drones

DCI offers training in drones to meet the needs of field users, as well as of decision-makers that need to include use of this particular technology in the planning and conduct of operations.

Tactical drone training takes place in four- to eight-week sessions at DCI's technical training centers: the Centre International de Formation de Draguignan for use specific to ground maneuvering and the Centre International de Formation Aéronautique de Salon-de-Provence for aeronautical expertise.

In this framework, DCI confers the know-how of the French armed forces acquired in the most recent foreign operations (Mali, Central African Republic, Afghanistan) by communicating the implementation techniques for piloting, intelligence collection and production of data files. These techniques are then applied in full-scale field exercises.

Health

Operations outside of France, particularly in Afghanistan and in Africa, led the (Service de santé des armées) (SSA) to deploy personnel closer to forces on the ground. With its valuable know-how and operational experience, DCI offers tailor-made solutions to meet the needs of its clients, both in France and abroad, to support them in strengthening and deploying their capabilities in the field of military health.

To meet the specific needs of the armed forces, the health service has access to two entities: the biomedical research institute and the central military pharmacy, which draw from unique techniques and technologies.

Special Forces

From initial training to conducting operations, DCI confers the proven expertise of the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) for the benefit of France's partner countries. These operational training courses have been developed to meet the needs of France's partners at all levels of responsibility, from execution to command level, in carrying out missions in all settings, climates, terrains and conditions.

DCI trains unit members within French armed forces training centers for the core missions of special forces, whatever their fields of application: land, sea, air and domestic security (counter-terrorism/hostage rescue).

Domestic security

DCI’s offerings are in line with the strategy of facing new security threats with the Security-Defense Continuum.

Since 2004, conferring the know-how of the National Gendarmeriefalls under DCI's purview. Via its Domestic Security department, DCI is able to provide, in France or abroad, advice and military training services covering all safety and security missions such as counter-terrorism, protection of prominent figures, and maintaining and restoring order, in accordance with the requirements and ethics criteria of the National Gendarmerie.

Certain very specific training programs are carried out in liaison with CIVIPOL (the consulting and service company of the French and Ministry of the Interior), such as training for the detection and neutralization of improvised explosive devices and for the audit of critical infrastructures. DCI thus proposes in situ audits in order to assess the security of sensitive sites and infrastructures in the face of terrorist threats. For this, DCI provides access to the best experts from the Minister of Defence and Ministry of the Interior.

Image and Intelligence

Military intelligence includes all disciplines dedicated to the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to the benefit of military decision-makers and units. The various areas of activity of military intelligence are divided between human and technical sources. These activities are carried out on all levels – tactical, operative and strategic – both peacetime and in time of conflict.

Through its ISR-Geo (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Geography) department, DCI offers military intelligence training courses covering the entire spectrum of these areas, with support from specialized French armed forces personnel with solid operational experience.

These training programs are intended to instruct specialists in military intelligence, aerial and satellite image analysis, targeting, and mapping of countries with which France implements defense cooperation.

Electronic Warfare

DCI's electronic warfare (EW) department provides training that is kept up to date with technological advances in equipment and software thanks to close cooperation with the top experts of the field's major industry players (Thales, MBDA and Lacroix). In June 2015, DCI partnered with Thales to provide high-level training services and offer a catalog including numerous shared training modules.

DCI's EW offering is based around the mobilization of expert trainers with proven operational experience and the use of teaching (didactic) methods which are adapted to modern EW.

DCI has trained the French Armed ForcesFrench armed forces]] (Air Force, French Navy and the French Army Light Aviation ALAT) and the joint force organizations in electronic warfare for many years, ensuring specialized training of future EW officers and non-commissioned officers and their operational units.

DCI worldwide

In 2015, the company had about 900 employees13, including about 260 abroad, and had permanent branches in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, India and Malaysia.

History

In 2014, DCI bought Vigie aviation, a company specialized in maritime surveillance.

In 2015, DCI announced the signing of a framework agreement with the leaders of the French Service de Santé des Armées (SSA) to be able to offer its training services (operational and academic) and expertise, as well as the related equipment, abroad.

Revenue

In 2015, the company had a consolidated turnover of 227.5 million EUR. Turnover for the previous eight years was as follows :

Shareholders

Since 1 January 2016, DCI's share capital has been distributed as follows:

Defense conseil International Group Management

In 2016, the executive committee was composed of the following individuals:

Chief executive officer

Management committee