Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval has tapped Swedish defense manufacturer Saab to supply the combat system for the Colombian Navy’s new Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie frigate.
The order includes Saab’s 9LV combat management and fire control systems, Ceros 200 radar and optronic tracking fire control director, EOS 500 electro-optical fire control director and Sea Giraffe 4A radars, among other Saab systems. Meanwhile, Daman Naval will provide design, engineering, technical support and materials to help Colombian shipbuilder COTECMAR construct the PES frigate locally.
Carl-Johan Bergholm, senior vice president and head of business area surveillance at Saab, said the contract marks the company’s first opportunity to work with Damen Naval.
“The PES program is state-of-the-art and we are honored that the Colombian Navy has selected Saab to supply their combat system,” the executive said. “Our partnership with Damen Naval marks an important collaboration in the naval domain.”
In August, Damen Naval and COTECMAR signed an agreement to provide support and supply components for the PES ship, the first frigate built in Colombia. According to Naval News, this project makes Colombia the third Latin American nation capable of building complex naval vessels at its shipyards, following Mexico and Brazil.
Also called the Strategic Surface Platform, the PES frigate will be based on Damen Naval’s SIGMA 10514 series and will be the first vessel in the family to incorporate Saab technology. According to Damen, the multimission SIGMA frigates offer reduced detectability, improved shock resistance and higher survivability.
Delivery of the first PES unit is scheduled for 2030.