Norwegian equipment supplier Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with Damen Naval to supply twin controllable pitch propellers (CPP) and shaftlines as part of a contract with the Colombian Navy for the new PES frigate.
In September 2022, the Colombian Ministry of Defense announced that Cotecmar and Damen Naval would develop the new frigate. The vessel will have a length of 107.5 meters and a beam of 14.02 meters. Construction is to begin at the end of 2025, with commissioning expected at the end of 2029 or the beginning of 2030.
The new Colombian frigate is based on Damen’s SIGMA design, which has proven popular with a growing number of navies, with variations of SIGMA currently in use by Mexico and Indonesia. The SIGMA vessel range uses modular platform components, enabling customisation for specific operational needs.
The frigate is part of the Colombian Navy’s Plataforma Stratégica de Superficie (PES) program, initiated in 2015 to replace the country’s Padilla frigates and upgrade its maritime capabilities.
Damen recently selected Alewijnse as the primary partner for electrical system integration. The company will manage the complete integration and installation of all electrical systems for the frigate.