Turkey’s Dearsan Shipyard has successfully completed the initial sea trials of the second of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) built for the Nigerian Navy.
The OPV-76 class vessels are part of a $160 million contract signed in November 2021, with both deliveries scheduled for 2025.
Construction of the vessels began in September 2022, with the first ship launched in October 2023, followed by the second in April 2024.
An initial payment of $35 million was made in June 2022, according to reports.
The 76.8-meter-long OPV-76 is designed to perform a range of missions, including anti-air warfare, maritime interdiction, anti-surface warfare, and special forces operations.
It is also equipped for peacetime missions such as anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and anti-drug trafficking.
The vessel boasts advanced combat capabilities, featuring a 76 mm Leonardo Super Rapid Gun, a 40 mm Leonardo Light Naval Gun, two 12.7 mm Stabilized Automatic Machine Guns, and four Mistral SIMBAD RC anti-air self-defense systems.
It is further equipped with a combat management system, air and surface surveillance 3D radar, electronic support measures, and a tactical data link system.
Additional features include an Identification Friend or Foe system, a chaff/decoy system, and an electro-optical reconnaissance and surveillance system.
The ship, with a displacement of 1,100 tons, has a range of 3,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 28 knots. It can accommodate a crew of 43.
The delivery of these state-of-the-art vessels marks a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security and enhancing its naval capabilities.
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