The Uruguayan Executive Branch is analyzing a formal proposal submitted through the Embassy of the United Kingdom for the acquisition of three River-class (Batch 1) offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to be decommissioned by the Royal Navy. The initiative emerges as an urgent response to the equipment crisis affecting the National Navy and seeks to avoid further bureaucratic delays following the recent and high-profile termination of the contract with the Spanish shipyard Cardama.
Direct management from the Executive Tower
One of the distinctive features of this process is its political handling. According to various sources, the information and preliminary analysis of the offer are being centralized directly by the national government. So far, the proposal has not gone through the formal stages of technical evaluation nor has it been processed as an organic requirement within the structure of the National Navy, underscoring the exceptional nature of the negotiation.
Unit profile: River-class (Batch 1)
The vessels offered belong to the first batch of the River class, platforms that have served as the backbone of the Royal Navy for fisheries protection and coastal security since their entry into service in 2003. Under the proposed scheme, the units could be incorporated into the Uruguayan fleet by 2028, once they are withdrawn from active service in the United Kingdom.
Main technical specifications:
Displacement: 1,770 tons
Length: 79.5 meters
Maximum speed: 20 knots
Range: 7,800 nautical miles (at 12 knots)
Armament: One 20 mm automatic cannon
Crew: 30 personnel (with accommodation capacity for 48)
The challenge of operational capabilities
Despite its proven robustness, the platform presents a critical limitation: it lacks the capability to operate embarked helicopters. This detail is significant, as the availability of a hangar and flight deck was a key and limiting requirement in all previous tender processes. Accepting these vessels would therefore imply a shift in the operational requirements historically defined by the navy.
Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
