Damen press release
In Cartagena, Colombia, the Corporación de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo de la Industria Naval, Marítima y Fluvial (COTECMAR) and Damen Shipyards Group have signed the contract for technical support and the supply of components for the construction of the Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES – Strategic Surface Platform) yesterday. It will be the first frigate to be built in Colombia. This is being done by COTECMAR based on Damen’s SIGMA 10514 model.
The ship represents a significant investment in local employment and technological development of the Colombian maritime industry and thus in the national economy.
The ship will have a length of 107.5 meters and a beam of 14.02 meters. After Mexico and Brazil, Colombia will be the third country in Latin America that is able to build these types of complex naval vessels under license at its own shipyards.
The contract signing was attended by Reina Buijs, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Colombia, Vice Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón, Comandante de la Armada de Colombia, Vice Admiral Luis Fernando Marquez Velosa, President of COTECMAR, Roland Briene, Managing Director of Damen Naval and Pieter Becker, Commercial Director PES Colombia of Damen Naval.
Admiral Rozo spoke of a “historic day, both for the Colombian Navy and for COTECMAR”. Roland Briene added that Damen Shipyards Group is particularly proud to be able to carry out this order together with COTECMAR. Pieter Becker indicated that he was looking forward to the start of the construction of this vessel and indicated that the order was partly due to the good cooperation that COTECMAR and Damen developed during the recent construction of the oceanographic and arctic research vessel Simón Bolívar.
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About Damen SIGMA Multi-Mission Frigate 10514
SIGMA is Damen’s Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach. It is based on the experience gained by building seven generations of surface combatants for, and including feedback from, the Royal Netherlands Navy. The use of modular platform components enables the tailoring of operational characteristics.
The SIGMA 10514 is the most recent and advanced frigate in Damen’s SIGMA family and has been delivered to Indonesia (2 vessels) and Mexico (1 vessel). The smart, modular building strategy developed by Damen facilitated the local construction of the Multi-Mission Frigates in Indonesia (PTPAL) and Mexico (ASTIMAR 20).
According to the company, SIGMA frigates provide major advantages such as decreased detectability by signature reduction measures and due to improved shock resistance, the vessels also ensure higher survivability rates. Deploying Naval Intact and Damaged Stability standards, the vessels offer built-in redundancy in vital systems and they are equipped with a CBRN Enclosed gas-tight citadel.
Key Specifications (Based on Indonesian variant):
- Dimensions: Length o.a. 105.11 m, Beam mld 14.02 m, Draught (dwl) 3.70 m
- Displacement (dwl) 2365 tonnes
- Speed: Economical – 15 kts, Max – 28 kts
- Range: 5000 nautical miles with 14 knots
- Propulsion System: Combined diesel or electric (CODOE), 2 x 10000 kW MCR diesel propulsion,
2 x 1300 kW MCR electric propulsion, 2 x CPP Ø 3.65 m propellers - Accommodation: 122 persons
- Sensors: 3D-surveillance & target indication radar & IFF, Radar / electro optical fire control, Hull mounted sonar, Combat management system
- Weapons: Medium calibre gun 76 mm, 1 x Close In Weapon System, 2 x 4 SSM launchers, 12 cell SAM launcher, 2 x triple torpedo launching system
- EW: ESM & ECM, 2 x Decoy launchers
Based on the image released by the Colombian MoD, the vessel in Colombian Navy configurations will features:
- A 76mm main gun by Leonardo in its STRALES (guided anti-air ammunitions) variant,
- 16x Mk56 VLS cells (likely for ESSM surface to air missiles)
- A Rheinmetall Millenium CIWS
- 8x Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles
- An NS100 radar
- 2x Stir 1.2 fire control radars
- A hull mounted sonar
