ARA La Argentina (pennant number D-11) is the second ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy.

La Argentina and her sister ships were authorized under the Naval Construction National Plan of 1974, an initiative by the Argentine Navy to replace old World War II-vintage warships which were nearing the end of their operational lives.

A contract was signed with the Blohm + Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, West Germany for the construction of four MEKO 360H2 destroyers.

The Argentine Navy struggled to meet maintenance and training requirements because of financial problems and import restrictions.

The Almirante Brown class were reported to be short of spares and suffering engine problems, plus all their ordnance was past its expiry date.