The first of three heavily fortified OPV 58S for the Senegalese Navy has started entering its armaments in time for its June 2023 delivery. Niani is the alternate ocean-going bullet-fortified command vessel for the Senegalese Navy that was launched in Concarneau on September 13, 2022, by French Piriou Shipyard.
Features
The OPV 58 S can carry out a variety of operations due to its robust and protean nature. Amongst similar operations is its anti-surface warfare and anti-aircraft interference capability through a potent array of obnoxious munitions systems.
The OPV’s munitions suite corresponds to; a 76 mm main gun by Leonardo, four SIMBAD- RC face-to-air dumdums, four12.7 mm manned machine ordnance, two Nexter 20 mm remote armament stations, and four Marte MK2/ Nanti-ship dumdums placed forward of the boat.
History of Niani
Niani was floated out on 2 February by Kership, a common adventure between Piriou and Naval Group, and was moved to Concarneau where alongside the first vessel of its class ‘ Walo ’. The OPV 58 S is part of the Senegalese Navy line recapitalization sweats which began in 2019. This accession was first unveiled during the Africa Maritime Security Forum( AMSF 2020) held between the 20th – 22nd of January 2020 in Dakar, Senegal. The contract for three OPV 58 S was inked in November 2019 by the Ministry of Armed Forces of Senegal and the PIRIOU group.
As part of the deal, Piriou attachment Piriou Ngom will support the vessels a number of times. Piriou attachment Pirou Ngom Senegal was created in October 2017 through cooperation with Ngom & Freres. The first vessel of the OPV 58S class was launched in September 2021, eleven months after the sword-cutting form was held in the Concarneau Flag of France.
Machine manufacturer MAN Energy results supplied the machines for three OPV 58S command boats, as well as two Israel Ockyards vessels ordered by Ivory Coast.