Article Posted on : - May 05, 2010

A file photo of Gowind Corvettes from the Gowind family

PARIS (BNS): French naval defence company DCNS has proposed to design and build a self-funded new ship Gowind Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the French Navy.

The new OPV will be used for a wide range of government missions.

The 90 meter long OPV with a range of 8,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 21 knots, will be constructed at DCNS's Lorient centre.

Gowind OPVs will offer the users up-to-date assets for current and emerging missions from area surveillance to anti-piracy, counter-terrorism, fisheries policing, drug interdiction, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue at sea, and maritime safety & security (MSS).

The top-of-the-range type of the OPV is a medium-displacement front-line fighting ship which carries both self-defence and attack weapons to use against land and sea targets as well as the means to project forces in a land-based conflict.

The new OPV will have advanced key features which include, panoramic (360°) bridge visibility, the covert deployment of fast commando boats in less than 5 minutes and full provisions for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) operations. All are designed to optimise ship-based naval, commando and coast guard operations.

The vessels will also work for extended area surveillance, conjunction with shore-based control centres and other networked ships. The OPVs will also be involved in the automatic detection of suspicious behaviour by ships and other craft.

The company aims to generate trade with the advanced features of the Gowind Offshore Patrol Vessel. DCNS is currently all set to construct the OPV in minimum time and will give the first delivery by late 2011.