Senegalese Navy receives first OPV 58 S patrol ship

Walo , the first of three OPV 58 S-type patrol boats on order for the Senegalese Navy, was delivered on 2 June. (Piriou)

French shipbuilder Piriou formally handed over the first Walo (OPV 58 S)-class offshore patrol ship to the Senegalese Navy during a ceremony held at its facilities in Brittany, northwest France, on 2 June.

First-of-class Walo is one of three OPV 58 S patrol ships being built under a contract signed with the Ministry of the Armed Forces of Senegal in November 2019.

The lead ship started construction in October 2020 and was launched on 11 April 2022. Its delivery will be followed by that of second vessel, Niani, in late 2023. The third ship, Cayor, was launched on 2 May 2023 and will be delivered in early 2024.

The Walo class has an overall length of 62.2 m, a full load displacement of 600 tonnes, a top speed of 21 kt, and a range of 4,500 n mile at 12 kt. The ships carry a core crew of 24 and can accommodate an additional 24 personnel.

Armament includes a Leonardo 76/62 Super Rapid medium-calibre gun, four MBDA Marte Mk 2/N surface-to-surface missiles, and an MDBA SIMBAD-RC short-range surface-to-air system with twin launchers for Mistral 3 missiles, two 20 mm Nexter Narwhal remotely controlled weapon systems, and two 12.7 mm machine guns.

The sensor fit includes a Terma Scanter surveillance radar and a Sperry Marine navigation radar, a Safran Paseo XLR extra-long-range naval optronic identification and fire-control system, and a Vigy electro-optical sensor that provides 360° coverage. Both the weapons and sensors are managed by a Naval Group Polaris combat management system.