11.04.2005, 20:53
Zitat:Argentina Readies Patrol Ship ProgramQuelle: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=768405&C=navwar">http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=768405&C=navwar</a><!-- m -->
By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS, BUENOS AIRES
Argentina is set to put out bids April 20 for a new program to build up to five multimission corvettes to patrol its offshore waters.
The program — dubbed PAM, for Patrullero de Alta Mar, or High Sea Patrol Craft — has been funded at $120 million, said Capt. Gustavo Tufiño, director of projects for the Argentine Navy.
Tufiño called the project “the biggest in the past 25 years” for the often cash-strapped service.
Argentine Defense Minister Jose Pampuro named the project second on his list of defense priorities for 2005, behind a large-scale program to develop an air-traffic control system for the country.
Argentina now lacks such a system, but development likely will take some time, and a contract is not expected to be awarded this year, said government officials and outside observers.