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.