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2021-05-05

Naval Group Delivers Second Offshore Patrol Vessel to Argentina

The Naval Group recently delivered. A.R.A. Piedrabuena to the Argentine Navy. This delivery is part of the contract signed by Naval Group with Argentina in 2018 for the delivery of four multi-mission patrol vessels. A.R.A. Bouchard (former L’Adroit) was delivered last December, two months ahead of schedule.

With the delivery of the A.R.A. Piedrabuena, the first of the three new patrol vessels built for Argentina, the programme keeps progressing as scheduled and will continue at a pace of one delivery every six months.

A 44-people crew from the Argentinian Navy has been trained in the operation and maintenance of the vessel by teams from Naval Group and Kership, a joint venture between Piriou and Naval Group.

This second patrol vessel of the series acquired by the Argentine Navy, which is of new construction, offers the same assets and features as those of the first one, the A.R.A. Bouchard. Some of its features have been reinforced to meet the Navy’s needs. Better armed and motorised, equipped with an active stabilisation system and a bow thruster, it is also ice proven, i.e., adapted to navigation in the cold waters of Antarctica.

Innovative and Ingenious

The Argentinean offshore patrol vessels (OPV) benefit from innovations developed by Naval Group and proven by the French Navy, which has operated L’Adroit in several oceans for six years.

The patrol vessels have very high endurance and provide 360-degree visibility from the bridge and a unique mast for a panoramic radar coverage. It also offers discrete and safe implementation in less than five minutes of fast crafts for Special Forces thanks to an ingenious ramp system at the bow of the patroller.

This range of ships also offers extensive surveillance of the maritime space and the detection of suspicious behaviours. The A.R.A Piedrabuena is equipped with the POLARIS system and NiDL tactical data link system, specifically developed by Naval Group for state missions at sea and sea-proven by the French Navy.

The OPV is able to stay on high seas for more than three weeks, to reach a speed of 20 knots and to accommodate a helicopter. Implemented by a reduced crew of 40 members, it is also able to accommodate about 20 extra passengers.

The OPV is 87 metres in length, its beam is 14 metres and has a displacement of 1,650 tonnes.

The maximum speed of the vessel is over 20 knots and has an endurance of > 7,000 nautical miles. It can accommodate 59 (crew and passengers) and has a boarding capacity of two light crafts of nine metres and one 10 tonne class helicopter.

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