The Argentine Navy took delivery of a new Gowind-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) from French defence company Naval Group on Wednesday, April 14.
Commissioned into service as ARA Piedrabuena shortly after its formal hand-over, the 87-metre, 1,650-tonne vessel is the first newbuild Gowind-class ship in Argentine service. Sister vessel ARA Bouchard, which was commissioned in 2019, had originally served with the French Navy under the name L'Adroit.
Piedrabuena is fitted with a Naval Group tactical data link system, an active stabilisation system, a bow thruster, a bridge offering 360-degree visibility, a helicopter deck, and bow-mounted equipment for launching and recovering two nine-metre fast boats laden with special operations troops.
The vessel has accommodations for 40 crewmembers and 20 other personnel. It can reach speeds of over 20 knots and sail for up to 7,000 nautical miles in between refuelings.
The OPV is also designed for operation in Antarctic waters.
Naval Group said the final two Gowind-class ships for Argentina will be delivered by 2022 at a rate of one ship every six months.
