Naval Group Launches Last Offshore Patrol Vessel for Argentina

Naval Group launched last of the four Offshore Patrol Vessel 87 (OPV 87) ordered by the Argentinean Navy, the A.R.A. Contraalmirante Cordero, this Tuesday 21 September in Concarneau.

This launch is part of the contract signed by Naval Group with Argentina in 2018 to provide four multi-mission offshore patrol vessels. A.R.A. Bouchard (ex-L'Adroit) had been delivered in December 2019 and A.R.A. Piedrabuena on 13 April 2021. A.R.A.Storni was launched on 10 May 2021 and will be delivered next October, in accordance with the original contractual schedule and despite the global health situation.

The last vessel of the series will offer the same assets and characteristics as the A.R.A. Piedrabuena and Storni. It benefits from an optimised motorised system, an active stabilisation system and a bow thruster. It is adapted to navigation in the cold waters of Antarctica.

The A.R.A. Storni is equipped with the Polaris system and NiDL tactical data link system, specifically developed by Naval Group for state missions at sea.

The 87m-long OPV can stay in deep seas for more than three weeks. It can reach speed of 20 knots and can accommodate a helicopter. It has a displacement of 1,650 tons and endurance of over 7,000 nautical miles. Implemented by a reduced crew of 40 members, it is also able to accommodate about twenty extra passengers. The boat’s boarding capacity us two light crafts of 9 meters and one 10-ton class helicopter.