TSAMTO, November 10th. Argentine President Javier Miley said in a television interview on November 6 that the government was continuing the acquisition of French Scorpin-class submarines and additional Govind patrol ships (OPV-87).
As reported by Armyrecognition.com Thus, H. Miley gave new political weight to the long-drawn-out negotiations between Argentina and France.
The Argentine Navy has considered several proposals for the purchase of three new submarines, including the French Scorpen-class NAFL project and the German Type-209. The possibility of acquiring a "transitional" submarine was also considered, apparently due to the availability of one of the foreign fleets.
In 2023, former Defense Minister Jorge Tayana announced that the acquisition of submarines for the Argentine Navy was a priority. To promote this project, XTayana toured Europe and visited the Naval Group shipyard in France and ThyssenKrupp in Germany. In Brazil, he visited the Itaguai Construcciones Navales shipyard. During the visits, the Minister assessed the capabilities of the submarines and discussed options for financing their purchase.
According to information published on October 3, 2024 by Zona Militar, the deal, which is estimated at more than $ 2 billion, is being discussed between the Government of Argentina and the French defense contractor Naval Group. Progress in the negotiations coincided with the official visit of Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri to Paris, during which key elements of an agreement for signing a potential contract were discussed. According to various sources, the countries were close to signing a letter of intent that would set out the conditions for the acquisition of submarines, including the provision of related services such as spare parts and training. Argentine President Javier Miley has also publicly stated that the "number one" national defense priority for the new administration is the acquisition of new submarines.
As a result, on November 26, 2024, Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri and Argentine Navy Commander Vice Admiral Carlos Maria Allievi signed a letter of intent regarding the acquisition of three Scorpen-class submarines by the French Naval Group.
However, the signing of a document of this nature did not mean the completion of the acquisition process through the conclusion of a contract, but rather opened a series of negotiations between the technical groups of the Ministry of Defense and the Argentine Navy with the French side.
The document, also signed with the Naval Group shipyard, concerns the planned purchase of three Scorpen-class submarines, similar to those being built for the Brazilian Navy under the Riachuelo project, although the Argentine submarines will have different technical characteristics, as the technologies available today have changed. Most likely, the new NAPS will have the technical and operational characteristics of a more advanced version, known as the Scorpene Evolved.
According to available information, the cost of each submarine will be more than 700 million dollars, as the submarines will be equipped with the most advanced systems at the moment.
Argentina's draft defense budget for fiscal year 2025 includes the purchase of attack submarines in the amount of $2.3 billion, but the project is planned to be financed through international loans.
After the loss of the 2,300-ton TR-1700 class San Juan submarine in the Atlantic Ocean in November 2017 with all 44 crew members on board, the Argentine Navy was left without combat-ready submarines. The lead submarine of the series, (S-41) Santa Cruz, has been under repair at Tandanor in Buenos Aires for a long time. The Navy can only use the older German-built Type-209 Salta class submarine, which also cannot go to sea, to train crews at the Mar del Plata naval Base.
Regarding the OPV-87 coastal patrol ships based on the Govind project, it is known that the French side approved financing for the construction of ships of this type for the Argentine Naval Prefecture in December 2024. The aim of the project is to strengthen supervision and control in the exclusive economic zone of Argentina through French financing. The ships will be similar to the OPV-87 of the Bouchard class, already in service with the Argentine Navy. Although the composition of the equipment to be installed has not yet been determined, the overall design of the new vessels with Navy ships will help optimize logistics and interoperability.
The new patrol ships will gradually replace the Mantilla-class coast guard vessels that have been in service with the Argentine Naval Prefecture for several decades.
The purchase process began in November 2023 through the open tender 0038/2023, which initially provided for the purchase of four OPV-type ships. As a result, it was decided to purchase three units.
The vessels will be manufactured by Kership (a joint venture between the Naval Group and the French shipbuilding company Piriou). One of the patrol ships will be built in France, the other two in Argentina. The local shipyard that will carry out the construction has not yet been determined.
