Senegal has signed a contract with French company Kership, a joint venture between Piriou and Naval Group, to procure three OPV 58 S offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
Under the terms of the contract, announced on 17 November, construction will start in early 2020, and all three OPVs are expected to be completed by mid-2023. The contract includes follow-on support in Senegal.
The OPV 58 S vessels will significantly increase the capabilities of the Senegalese Navy. (Piriou)
Kership’s OPV 58 S design is based on a steel and aluminium hull with an overall length of 62 m and a displacement of 550 tonnes. It features a 360° vision bridge and an aft ramp for the rapid launch and recovery of two rigid-hull inflatable boats. Innovative features include a ‘C-Sharp’ (Combined-Speeds Hull with All-Round Performances) hull shape jointly developed by Piriou and Kership that increases the ship’s endurance and seagoing capabilities.
The OPVs will have a maximum speed of 21 kt, and an endurance of 25 days, or 4,500 n miles at a speed of 12 kt. The ships will be operated by a crew of 24, with accommodation for an additional 24 personnel.
While details of the OPV’s weapons package have not been disclosed, graphic renditions of the vessel show a Leonardo 76 mm gun and four anti-ship missile launchers – possibly MBDA’s Marte – on the deck in front of the bridge. The OPV 58 S also appears to carry two remotely operated machine guns systems behind the bridge and an MBDA Simbad-RC point-defence missile system at the rear.
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