Argentine takes delivery of final multi-mission OPV from Naval Group

The last of the four Argentinian offshore patrol vessels (OPV), OPV 87 ARA Contraalmirante Cordero, was delivered to the Argentine Navy in Concarneau on 13 April.

As explained, the delivery and commandment handover ceremony of the last vessel of the series marks the completion of a successful program. It is part of the contract signed by Naval Group with Argentina in 2019 for the supply of four OPVs.

ARA Contraalmirante Cordero completed sea trials last month. The launching ceremony of the 87-meter-long vessel took place on 21 September last year.

ARA Bouchard (ex-L’Adroit) was delivered in December 2019 two months ahead of schedule, and the second and third offshore patrol vessels ARA Piedrabuena and ARA Storni were delivered in April and October 2021, respectively.

This success was made possible thanks to the close collaboration between Naval Group, Kership and Piriou, who worked side by side with the Argentinean Navy, according to the statement.

 “We are conscious that delivering 4 ships in 3 years, training the crews and providing the associated logistics services was a real challenge. Our thanks and gratitude go to all the men and women of Naval Group and its industrial partners who have worked tirelessly to achieve this feat. These ships are already contributing to the defence of Argentina’s sovereign interests by enabling the Argentine Armada to carry out its missions at sea,” Captain Santiago Villemur, representative of the Argentinian Navy in France said.

The three patrol vessels of the series constructed in Concarneau offer the same assets and features as those of the ARA Bouchard. Several developments have been incorporated to meet the needs of the Argentine Navy as closely as possible.

Better armed and motorised than the Bouchard, 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, the company stated.

This range of ships also benefits from Naval Group’s knowledge in information and command systems, allowing for extensive surveillance of the maritime space and the detection of suspicious behaviours.

The ARA Contraalmirante Cordero is equipped with the POLARIS system and NiDL tactical data link system, specifically developed by Naval Group for state action missions at sea and sea-proven by the French Navy.

The OPV is able to stay on high seas during more than three weeks, 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 twenty extra passengers.

• Length: 87 meters
• Beam: 14 meters
• Displacement: 1,650 tons
• Max. speed: over 20 knots
• Accommodation: 59 (crew and passengers)
• Endurance: > 7,000 nautical miles
• Boarding capacity: two light crafts of 9 meters and one 10-ton class helicopter