Argentinian Navy gets first new OPV
The first of four OPV 87 offshore patrol vessels has been delivered by Naval Group to the Argentinian Navy.
The vessel has undergone a ten-month upgrade and modernisation programme to prepare it for delivery to Argentina. Modifications have been carried out to the combat system to meet customer requirements, and to the propulsion system and freshwater production capacity. The vessel has also been fitted with a 30mm gun.
The Argentinian Navy’s future crew have received specific navigation training from Naval Group’s team.
Prior to the refit, the vessel was in service as L’Adroit with the French Navy from 2011 to 2018.
Alain Guillou, senior executive vice president, Naval Group, said: 'We are very proud to deliver the first ship to the Argentinian Navy ahead of schedule. This is another demonstration of Naval Group's commitment towards its customers and of its capability to respond to their operational needs.’
The 87m OPV is able to stay on mission for more than three weeks, and can travel at speeds of 20 knots and embark a helicopter. Manned by a reduced crew of forty personnel, it is also able to accommodate about twenty extra passengers.
The three remaining OPVs will be delivered from April 2021 at the pace of one unit every six months.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear]()
Future of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is still unclear
The Canadian government remains tight-lipped on the timeline and funding required for the next steps of its Canadian Submarine Patrol Project, which should offer improved capabilities for the country’s navy.
-
![Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection]()
Mitsubishi eyes future with Australia’s Mogami selection
With Australia’s selection of the Mogami-class for Project Sea 3000, Mitsubishi is investigating local production in the next decade as potential export opportunities emerge.
-
![Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions]()
Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions
The new sonar is designed to equip uncrewed underwater vessels, with the potential to be used by the Royal Navy for its Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net missions.
-
![UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction]()
UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction
The expansion of the Virginia-class submarine construction to UK shores could accelerate the project as US shipbuilders continue to fall short of delivery goals.
