Euronaval 2024 – Montenegro MoD ordered two OPVs from Kership
During the Euronaval 2024 exhibition, representatives from the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro and from Kership, the joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou, signed a contract for two 60 metres Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)
The contract, which value remains undisclosed, is for two platforms based on the OPV 60 model, already sold to the Senegalese Navy. With a length and beam of respectively 62.95 and 9.5 metres, and a draught of 2.9 metres, their displacement can reach 700 tonnes. The OPV 60 has a steel hull and aluminium superstructures. Its propulsion system comes in the CODLAD (Combined Diesel-electric and Diesel) configuration, with two fixed pitch propellers, and allows a maximum speed of 21 knots and a range of over 9,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.
The mission of the two new Montenegro naval units will be to conduct law enforcement operations at sea with high flexibility, high endurance, good seakeeping capabilities and high fire power if requested, according to the few details available about customer requirements. The project definition also includes capabilities to carry and deploy Special Forces via autonomous boats and drone-type equipment in order to extend the vessel’s zones of action and influence.
Based on the OPV 60 model showcased in Paris, the two platforms have at the extreme stern two launch-and-recovery stations for 6.8 metres RHIBs as well as a rear main working area capable to accommodate two 20-foot standard containers that can host a range of equipment for divers or Special Forces support. Unmanned vertical take-off and landing air vehicles can be operated either form the stern area as well as form the bow area. The latter can accommodate a main naval gun mount up to 76/62 mm while for the Montenegro platforms a smaller gun is being considered, quite probably a 40 mm one.
The superstructures host the main bridge with a 360-degree walkway, firepower being provided by two unspecified 12.7 mm calibre remotely controlled weapon stations and trainable machine guns. The OPV 60 is being proposed with a Naval Group Polaris mission management system and a sensors package including search and navigation radars, electro-optic systems, and a hull-mounted sonar. The citadel is protected against CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) threats.
Through a technical arrangement between the Logistics Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro and the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the latter supports the former mainly with the monitoring of the general progress of the Kership commercial contract and the conducting, in France, of quality assurance following the methods in force at the DGA. The technical arrangement is fully in line with the framework and implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of defence signed between the two countries in April 2024.
Photo by L. Peruzzi
