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MADRID (BNS): Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has inked a MoU with South African firm Veercraft Marine to jointly work on developing offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) for the South African Navy under project BIRO.

"The objective of both companies is to identify and pursue possible business opportunities for the construction of OPV's and IPV's for the South African Navy and jointly make the necessary efforts for the award of the BIRO Project," Navantia said in a statement on Feb 21.

The S African Navy plans to acquire at least three new OPVs and six new IPVs under project BIRO, though no official announcement has been made in this regard so far.

While the new OPVs will replace the Warrior-class fast attack missile craft (FAC) of the Navy, the IPVs will be designed as a replacement for the T Craft-class inshore patrol vessels of the SA Navy.