Argentina receives A.R.A. Piedrabuena from Naval Group.

According to information published by Naval Group on April 13, 2021, the second Argentinian offshore patrol vessel, OPV 87 A.R.A. Piedrabuena, was delivered to the Argentine Navy in the presence of Captain Víctor Ortiz, representative of the Argentinian Navy in France.
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Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Piedrabuena P-52 (Picture source: Naval Group)

A.R.A. Piedrabuena has been delivered to the Argentine Navy today in the presence of Captain Víctor Ortiz, representative of the Navy in France, who also recognised Commander Gastón Vega in his assumption of command.

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 program keeps progressing as scheduled and will continue at a pace of one delivery every six months.

The 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 her 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.

OPV 87, an innovative vessel

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

 Very high endurance and excellent sea-worthiness;
 A 360° visibility from the bridge and a unique mast for a panoramic radar coverage;
 The 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 benefits from Naval Group's expertise in information and command systems, allowing for 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.

Technical features

The Offshore Patrol Vessel is able to stay on high seas during 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 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