The Neptune III exercise involved over 800 sailors and 18 units (surface, submarine, aircraft and amphibious) of the Colombian Navy. Its goal was to
re-validate the strategic capabilities of the navy in defending of the Country.
“The high commitment and high level of training allowed our men to re-validate these strategic capabilities. They give us the level at which an institution like the Colombian Navy must be in order to face any threat that could threaten our national sovereignty. ”
Commander of the Colombian Navy, Admiral Evelio Ramírez Gáfaro
The SINKEX part of Neptune III involved firings (both simulated and live) of torpedoes from a submarine against a surface target and live firing with an anti-ship missile.
The video shows two decommissioned Lüneburg-class (Type 701) logistics vessels were used as target and both were sunk. ARC Cartagena de Indias (pennant 161) was sunk by a torpedo launched from one of the two Type 209/1200 diesel electric submarines in the Colombian fleet. ARC Buenaventura (pennant 162) was sunk by a C-Star anti-ship missile launched by an Almirante Padilla-class frigate.
About LIG Nex1 C-Star / SSM-700K / Haeseong anti-ship missile
It was the first time the C-Star anti-ship missile was lived fired by the Colombian Navy, in Colombian waters. Also known as SSM-700K Haeseong, the C-Star is an anti-ship missile developed by the Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korean defense company LIG Nex1 for the Republic of Korea Navy. The missiles are deployed since 2005 aboard KDX-II and KDX-III destroyers. C-Star missiles are also fitted aboard the new FFX Incheon class of frigates.
The missile has a range of over 150 Km, a top speed of Mach 0.85 and is capable of low altitude sea skimming flight.
A land attack variant, called Tactical Surface Launch Missile (TSLM) / Sea Dragon / Haeseong II has been developed by LIG Nex1 and is not in mass production for the ROK Navy.
The Colombian Navy began in 2007 the process of modernization and extension of the life cycle of its four frigates, in two stages:
- The first step focused on upgrade and overhaul of the platforms and sensors (The Almirante Padilla-class was upgraded with the TACTICOS combat management system by Thales for example).
- The second step, which began in 2010 focused on the weapon systems. Following a competitive process in which 4 companies took part, the Colombian Navy selected the C-Star anti-ship missile from South Korea.
