The contract is for 82.3 million euros and the first vessel is expected to be sailing in 18 months and the second a year later
The Minister of Defense of Uruguay, Armando Castaingdebat, confirmed after his appearance before the Defense Commission of the Uruguayan Senate, that the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, has approved the endorsements presented by the Spanish shipyard Cardama for the construction of the two ocean patrol vessels ordered by Uruguay. All that remains is for the formal submission of these documents for the deadlines of the construction contract to begin to run.
The vessels displace 1,700 tonnes, 86.75 metres in length, 12.20 metres in beam and 3.60 in draught. They will have two interdiction speedboats, launchable by ramps at the stern, as well as an auxiliary and rescue boat according to Solas protocols; Below the flight deck, a system of multifunctional containers will provide space for mission-specific equipment, such as the fight against pollution.
As for the hangar, according to the Navy’s requirement, the ships have the capacity to accommodate the Agusta Bell 412. In addition to the ability to be refueled at sea and to extend their operational capabilities to the maximum. The combat management system is the C-Flex from Terma, which will also provide the Scanter 6002 radar. The weapon systems will be provided by the Spanish company Escribano, with the main one being a 30mm Sentinel 30 and two secondary Sentinel 2.0, one per side, 12.7mm. The Spanish company will also provide electro-optical surveillance and targeting systems.