Naval Group launches OPV ARA Bartolome Cordero for Argentine Navy.

According to a press release published by Naval Group on September 22, 2021, the last of the four Offshore Patrol Vessel 87 (OPV 87) ordered to Naval Group by the Argentinean Navy, the A.R.A. Contraalmirante Cordero, has been launched in Concarneau.
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Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Bartolome Cordero (Picture source: Naval Group)

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 optimized motorized system, 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:

This range of ships also benefits from the 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. Contraalmirante Cordero is equipped with the Polaris system and NiDL tactical data link system, specifically developed by the 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 14 m. The full load displacement of the ship is 1,650 t. The maximum speed of the OPV 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.