DÉFENSE ZONE
On 12 September in Concarneau, the Kership shipyard (a joint venture between the Piriou group and Naval Group) launched the “Niani”, the second offshore patrol vessel in a series of three ships. Ordered in November 2019 by Senegal’s Ministry of the Armed Forces, the three patrol vessels are due to be delivered by summer 2024. “The first unit is being fitted out alongside the quay before the start of its sea trials, and the third is also being fitted out before its launch”, says the shipbuilding company.
“This is an important milestone for this ship, of course, but also, more broadly, for the OPV58 S programme! Thanks to the commitment of the Piriou and Kership teams and the continuous partnership work with representatives of the Senegalese General Staff, we are progressing according to the planned schedule”, said a delighted Vincent Faujour, Chairman of the Piriou Group.
Robust and with long endurance, these 62 m patrol vessels will carry out surveillance, identification and intervention missions. For this they have two launch ramps for fast boats as well as a complete weapon system supplied by MBDA. Anti-ship defence will be provided by MARTE Mk2/N missiles, while a SIMBAD-RC system firing two MISTRAL missiles will provide protection against threats from the air.
