Senegal is one step closer to receiving it’s first missile-armed OPV 58 S patrol vessel from French Piriou group.
Eleven months after the steel cutting ceremony was held in Concarneau Flag of France, the first of three missile-armed OPV 58 S for the Senegalese Navy is now in the fitting-out stage.
The cutting ceremony was attended by General Birame Diop, Chief of the General Staff of Senegal’s military, and Admiral Oumar Wade, Chief of Staff of the Senegalese Navy.
The vessel will be launched in 2022, with the other two units scheduled for delivery in 2023 and the 3rd vessel scheduled for 2024.
The contract for three OPV 58 S was signed in November 2019 by the Ministry of Armed Forces of Senegal and the PIRIOU group.
Included in the contract is a follow on support which will be conducted at PIRIOU NGOM site in Senegal.
The OPV 58 S is part of the Senegalese Navy fleet recapitalisation efforts which began in 2019. This acquisition was first unveiled during the Africa Maritime Security Forum (AMSF 2020) held between 20th – 22nd January, 2020 in Dakar, Senegal.
Senegal has placed order for a plethora on naval patrol boats including four Shaldag Mk II vessels from Israel, and a single Shaldag Mk V, two RPB 33 patrol boats from Raidco Marine, both patrol boats are currently being built at the UFAST Shipyard.
To power the new vessels, engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions was contracted to provide engines for three OPV 58 S patrol boats.
The OPV 58 S are 62 metres long, 9.5 metres wide and have a maximum draft of 2.9 metres. They are built with a steel hulls and aluminium superstructures with a 360 degree panoramic bridge.
The top speed is 21 knots with a range of 4 500 miles at 12 knots, for a 25 day endurance.
The vessels are able to accommodate up to 48 people, including 24 crew members.
The OPV 58 S patrol vessels are armed with four MBDA anti-ship missiles (Marte Mk 2Ns) and the MBDA SIMBAD-RC air defence system with two Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles, along with a 76 mm gun and possibly two 20 mm Narwhal cannons.
France’s Naval Group will supply the combat management system (POLARIS).
