Launch of the third Argentine Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Storni by Naval Group.

According to a press release published by Naval Group on May 11, 2021, the third of the four Offshore Patrol Vessel 87 (OPV 87) ordered to Naval Group by Argentina has been launched at Concarneau shipyard (Brittany).
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Offshore Patrol Vessel A.R.A Storni (Picture source: Twitter account of Naval Group)

After the recent delivery of A.R.A. Piedrabuena, the third OPV A.R.A. Storni was launched on May 10th. The ship, which was partly built in Lanester by Kership Lorient and assembled in Concarneau by Piriou Shipyards, was launched.

This delivery 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, two months ahead of schedule, and A.R.A. Piedrabuena, the first of the three newly-built patrol vessels, was delivered in April 13, 2021.

The third vessel of the series will offer the same assets and characteristics as the A.R.A. Piedrabuena. Better armed than the A.R.A. Bouchard, more motorized, equipped with an active stabilization system and a bow thruster, it is also “Ice proven”, i.e. adapted to navigation in the cold waters of Antarctica.

The Argentinean Offshore Patrol Vessels benefit from innovations developed by Naval Group and sea proven by the French Navy, which has operated L’Adroit in several oceans for six years for multiple maritime security operations, either alone or in cooperation with other Navies like a very high endurance and excellent sea and excellent sea-worthiness and a 360° visibility from the bridge and a unique mast for a panoramic radar coverage.

They allow 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 behaviors. 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 and sea-proven by the French Navy.

The ship has an overall length of 87 m and a beam of 13 m. The full load displacement of the ship is 1,650 t. The maximum speed of OPV 87 is more than 20 knots. She can carry 59 people (crew and passengers) on board and is capable to carry 10-ton class helicopters.

ARA Storni is armed with one Leonardo MARLIN - WS which is an advanced system developed to meet the emerging requirements of modern naval warfare and suitable either as the main armament for small size vessels or as secondary armament for a larger ship, with no deck penetration and simple installation.