Saab to provide combat system for Colombia’s new frigate

Saab has signed a contract with Damen Naval to provide the combat system for Colombia’s new frigate, which is known as the Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) and based on the SIGMA 10514, which is scheduled for delivery in 2030, according to a 26th February press release. 

The contract includes Saab’s 9LV Combat Management and 9LV Fire Control Systems as well as the Ceros 200 radar and optronic tracking fire control director, EOS 500 electro-optical fire control director, Sea Giraffe 4A radars and other Saab systems.

The 9LV Combat Management System works to coordinate all of the sensors and weapons carried by a ship, including fusion of those sensor outputs into a single recognisable picture, according to Saab. The 9LV Fire Control System can be integrated into the combat management system and provide fire control of the weapons, including in an air defence role and in support of anti-submarine warfare engagements. The Ceros 200 and EOS 500 are both elements of the fire control system. 

The Sea Giraffe 4A is a fixed face active electronically scanned array radar operating in the S-band. S-band radars are typically used for surveillance and navigation, they emit a longer wavelength than other radars which minimises the impact of adverse weather. Saab states that it is capable of detecting small and slow targets in the air and on the sea surface, as well as hypersonic threats. 

The PES is based on the Damen Naval SIGMA 10514 series, but will be built by Colombian shipbuilder COTECMAR in Cartagena.  Damen Naval will deliver engineering, technical support and the shipbuilding material. This design is in service with Indonesia, which has taken delivery of two vessels, and Mexico which deploys a single SIGMA 10514. All three were built locally through partnerships that Damen established. The company states it has a modular building strategy that ensured all three ships were built on time and within budget. 

Tech profile: SIGMA 10514 

This image shows the Indonesia frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai, which is based on the SIGMA 10514, arriving at Pearl Harbor to participate in RIMPAC 2022U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elizabeth Grubbs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The SIGMA 10514 design from Damen is a modular ship with hull segments that are designed as components. In past contracts, Damen has built some of the modules while the remainder have been built by the local partner. The ships are 105 m long with a beam of 14 m and a draft of 3.9 m. They displace 2,500 tonnes as standard, although Colombia’s requirements are understood to include an increase of 500 tonnes. The ships provide a range of 9,000 km and a top speed of 27 knots – around 50 km/h. They are crewed by 120 personnel and can carry a medium-sized helicopter. Concept images from 2024 indicated that the PES would be armed with a 16 cell vertical launch system from MBDA carrying the company’s Mica air defence missiles as well as the Leonardo OTO 76 mm gun system. 

Calibre comment

The Colombian Navy initially indicated a desire for five PES frigates based on the Damen design and that they should be able to operate on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to support the country’s strategic autonomy. However, articles published by other trade outlets such as Infodefensa indicate that the agreements for production were not signed in a timely manner leading to cost increases.