Swedish defence contractor Saab has been contracted to supply combat management system for the Colombian Navy’s Plataforma Stratégica de Superficie (PES) programme.
The contract has been signed with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval and the collaboration leverages the latter’s expertise in design and engineering with Saab’s defence systems to provide a naval solution that meets Colombia’s operational needs.
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The Colombian Navy’s initiative to replace the Padilla frigates began in 2015 under the PES programme.
In 2022, Colombian shipyard COTECMAR and Damen Naval agreed on co-developing the contractual design for the PES.
Subsequently in August 2024, the contract for technical support and component supply for the PES construction was signed.
The PES frigate, based on Damen Naval’s SIGMA 10514 series, is expected to be delivered by 2030.
Saab senior vice president and Business Area Surveillance head Carl-Johan Bergholm said: “The PES programme is state-of-the-art, and we are honoured that the Colombian Navy selected us to supply their combat system. Our partnership with Damen Naval marks an important collaboration for the naval domain.”
With a length of 107.5 metres (m) and a beam of 14.02m, the ship’s construction will be undertaken locally by COTECMAR, with Damen Naval providing design, engineering support, and materials.
Colombia will join Mexico and Brazil as the third Latin American nation capable of building such naval vessels under licence in its own shipyards.
Saab will equip the frigate with its 9LV combat management system and 9LV fire control system, as well as various sensors and radar systems, including the Ceros 200 radar and EOS 500 electro-optical fire control director.
The Sea Giraffe 4A radars will also be part of the frigate’s technology suite. This is claimed to be the first SIGMA frigate to be fitted with Saab technology.
Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene said: “This collaboration with Saab is a prime example of how North European cooperation can drive naval innovation and meet the evolving needs of international clients.”
According to a report by GlobalData titled “Colombia Defense Market 2024-2029,” the Colombian Ministry of Defense expects these new frigates to enhance the nation’s capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, self-defence, and commando-projection operations.
