Second OPV Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Piedrabuena of Argentinian Navy has entered the water for the first time.

According to information published by the Defesa Aerea & Naval website on August 11, 2020, the second OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) ARA Piedrabuena built for the Navy of Argentina has entered the water for the first time. This OPV is similar to the ARA Bouchard ex-Adroit of the French Navy built by the French Company Naval Group.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Second OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) ARA Piedrabuena built for the Navy of Argentina has entered the water for the first time. (Picture source Defesa Aerea & Naval)

In December 2019, the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) L’Adroit has adopted the Argentinian flag and becomes the A.R.A. BOUCHARD. The first one of the four OPVs ordered by Argentina has been designed and developed by Naval Group on its own resources.

The Adroit is a Gowind-class patrol vessel, a family of steel monohull frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels developed since 2006 by France's Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS, to conduct missions in the littoral zone such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Naval Group has concluded a contract with Argentina to equip its Navy with four Offshore Patrol Vessels OPV 87 including L’Adroit. The ship was used by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) from 2011 to 2018, demonstrating the relevance and operational value of this new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels in theatres of operations.

The Offshore Patrol Vessel is able to stay on the high seas for more than three weeks, to attain a speed of 20 knots and to accommodate a helicopter. L’Adroit has an overall length of 87 m, a beam of 13 m, and design draught of 3.3 m. The full load displacement of the ship is 1,450 t. She has a crew of 40 sailors and has space for 30 passengers.

This range of ships also benefits from Naval Group's expertise in terms of information and commandment systems, allowing extended surveillance of the maritime space and the automatic detection of suspect behaviors. The BOUCHARD is thus equipped with the Polaris® system, specifically developed by Naval Group for state missions at sea and sea-proven by the French Navy.