Naval Group delivered the A.R.A Piedrabuena, second Argentinian offshore patrol vessel (OPV 87), to the Argentinean Navy in the presence of Captain Victor Ortiz, representative of the Argentinean Navy in France. ARA Piedrabuena (P-52) is the second ship of Argentinian Gowind-class offshore patrol vessel of the Argentinian Navy. Piedrabuena was laid down in 2019 and launched on 1 October 2020 by DCNS in Lorient. The vessel began sea trials in March 2021. It was formally delivered to the Argentine Navy in April 2021.
In February 2018 the Argentine Navy was instructed to restart negotiations with Naval Group for the procurement of four Gowind-class vessels. The decision was motivated by the meeting between Argentine President Mauricio Macri and French President Emmanuel Macron at the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland. An order for four vessels was expected in July 2018. In November 2018, Argentina confirmed the purchase of four Gowind-class vessels. The purchase includes the already-built L’Adroit, which in 2016 visited the region on a marketing trip.
She has a 360° panoramic bridge and an integrated mast. The minimal superstructure of the ship leaves a substantial space available for air operations (helicopters, UAVs) and for launch and recovery of surface assets (RHIBs or USVs). This range of ships also benefits from Naval Group’s expertise in information and commandment systems, allowing for extended surveillance of the maritime space and the detection of suspicious behaviors.
The A.R.A. Piedrabuena is equipped wih the Polaris combat system and the NiDl® tactical data link system, specifically developed by Naval Group for State missions at sea and sea-proven by the
French Navy. Argentinian offshore patrol vessels can also carry out the discreet implementation in less than five minutes of fast crafts for Special Forces thanks to an ingeniousa ramp system at the bow of the patroller.
