Naval Group Company Profile, Products, Employees and Revenue

Naval Group is a French state-controlled naval defence company headquartered in Paris that designs, builds and supports nuclear and conventional submarines, frigates, corvettes and aircraft carriers, including the Suffren-class attack submarines, the FDI frigate and the Scorpène export submarine. It traces its origins to French royal dockyards founded in 1631, according to Wikipedia.

The group employed 17,170 people at 31 December 2025 and reported revenue of about €4.7 billion for the year, up 7.5%, with 33.0% of it coming from international customers, according to its 2025 annual report. Its main customer is the French Navy, and its order book stood at a record €32.0 billion at the end of 2025. The French State owns 62.25% of the capital and Thales 35%.

What Does Naval Group Do?

Naval Group describes itself as a sovereign industrialist serving the French Navy and a key player in the French nuclear deterrent. It designs, produces and maintains warships, systems and equipment, and its annual report lists five areas of know-how: managing large programmes, naval systems engineering across the life cycle, combat systems including submarine weapons and drones, assembly and maintenance of nuclear vessels, and continuous innovation.

Its range runs from the nuclear ballistic missile submarines that have kept France at sea without interruption for 50 years to Barracuda attack submarines, Scorpène conventional submarines, the Charles de Gaulle carrier, FDI and FREMM frigates, Mistral-class amphibious ships, Gowind corvettes, mine warfare systems, drones and torpedoes.

How Many Employees Does Naval Group Have?

Naval Group had 17,170 employees on 31 December 2025, according to its annual report, which calls this the group’s “exceptional human capital.” Wikipedia lists 15,261 employees across 17 countries for 2024. Its subsidiaries and branches include units in Brazil, India, Malaysia, Belgium, Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

Who Owns Naval Group?

The company is a French public limited company (société anonyme). At 31 December 2025 the French State held 62.25% of the capital and Thales held 35%. Staff and former staff held 1.57% through a mutual investment fund, Naval Group Actionnariat held 1.16% as treasury shares, and employees held 0.02% directly, per the annual report. Thales first took a 25% stake in 2007 and raised it to 35% in 2011, according to Wikipedia. See our Thales company profile for the shareholder’s own figures.

Naval Group Revenue and Financial Results

Consolidated 2025 revenue was €4.7 billion, a 7.5% rise on 2024. Operating profit before amortisation of fair value differences was €318.7 million, or 6.8% of revenue, against €307.4 million (7.1%) in 2024. Net profit was €267.4 million, and net cash plus investment securities reached €1,794.3 million at year end. Orders taken in 2025 totalled €18.9 billion, a book-to-bill ratio of 4.0. Of the order book, 53% is scheduled for delivery after 2029.

What Are Naval Group’s Main Products?

Which Countries Buy From Naval Group?

France is the anchor customer, but exports shaped the past decade. The Scorpène has been sold to Chile, Malaysia, India and Brazil, and Indonesia is the newest customer.

What Happened With Australia’s Attack-Class Submarines?

Naval Group won Australia’s SEA 1000 programme on 26 April 2016, a contract for 12 Attack-class submarines valued at A$50 billion, according to Wikipedia. Australia cancelled it on 16 September 2021, the day it announced the AUKUS partnership to acquire nuclear-powered boats. The two governments agreed compensation of €555 million to Naval Group on 11 June 2022, and the annual report says the activity of Naval Group Australia was suspended after the programme closed. Australia’s nuclear submarine plans have moved on since, as covered in our report on the Henderson AUKUS naval hub.

Naval Group Recent Contracts and Developments

The largest recent win is Sweden. Naval News reports that the Swedish FMV signed for four FDI-based Luleå-class frigates on 31 August 2026 aboard Amiral Ronarc’h in Stockholm, with deliveries from 2030 to 2034 and Swedish systems including RBS15 missiles and Giraffe 1X radar. The Defense Post puts the value at SEK 47 billion, about $4.8 billion. For the Swedish defence industry side, see our Saab company profile.

On 24 June 2026 Naval Group delivered De Grasse, the fourth Barracuda-class submarine, after four months of sea trials that began on 24 February, per Naval News. In Europe, the Netherlands is buying Orka-class submarines while its ASW frigate programme slips, as covered in our Dutch ASW frigate report. For another European conventional submarine, see our S-82 Narciso Monturiol depth trials article.

Naval Group History Timeline

Naval Group FAQ

Where is Naval Group headquartered?

Naval Group is headquartered in Paris, France, with major shipyards at Cherbourg and Lorient.

How many employees does Naval Group have?

17,170 at 31 December 2025, according to its 2025 annual report.

What was Naval Group revenue in 2025?

About €4.7 billion, up 7.5% on 2024, with net profit of €267.4 million.

Who owns Naval Group?

The French State owns 62.25% and Thales 35%, with the remainder held by employee funds and treasury shares, at 31 December 2025.

What was Naval Group called before?

DCNS, from 2007 until the rename to Naval Group on 28 June 2017; before that DCN.

What submarines does Naval Group build?

Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines, the 3G nuclear ballistic missile submarines, Scorpène conventional submarines and the Orka class for the Netherlands.

Why was the Australian Attack-class contract cancelled?

Australia cancelled it on 16 September 2021 when it announced the AUKUS plan for nuclear-powered submarines. Compensation of €555 million was agreed in June 2022.

Which navies operate the FDI frigate?

France and Greece have delivered ships, and Sweden signed for four on 31 August 2026.