With the first steel plate cut, construction has begun on the first frigate to be built domestically for the Colombian National Navy, known as the Strategic Surface Platform (PES). The ship will be built by the Corporation for Science and Technology for the Development of the Naval, Maritime and River Industry (Cotecmar), marking the start of Colombia’s most significant naval project to date. This will be the first frigate to be integrated into Colombia’s Armed Forces.
At the official ceremony held at Cotecmar’s Mamonal Plant in Cartagena, Vice Admiral Luis Fernando Márquez Velosa, president of Cotecmar, stated: “At Cotecmar we will continue moving forward, building the future, and demonstrating that Colombian naval engineering is world-class.”
The frigate is intended to gradually replace the “Almirante Padilla” class missile frigates (FS-1500). The design is based on Damen Shipyards Group’s SIGMA 10714 class, which will be adapted to meet the requirements of the Colombian Navy. Its dimensions will be: a length of 107.5 meters, a beam of 14.02 meters, and a draft of 3.90 meters; its hull will be composed of 52 naval-steel blocks. In addition, it is expected that during construction through 2030, approximately 1,500 direct jobs and another 4,000 indirect and induced jobs will be created, making it an important generator of employment in Colombia and the region.
Timeline of contracts for the co-development and technological integration of the frigate
In 2022, the Colombian Navy and Cotecmar signed contract number 0005-ARC-JOLA-2022, whose purpose is: “CONSTRUCTION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, OUTFITTING AND COMMISSIONING AT FULL COST OF MAJOR AFLOAT UNITS / NAVAL ASSETS FOR THE ARC”; this agreement covers the construction of new ships, such as a Logistics Support Vessel, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, the Strategic Surface Platform (PES), and other strategic units.
Cotecmar and Damen signed a contract in August 2024, estimated at between 435 and 440 million dollars. This agreement includes technical support, detailed engineering, and the procurement of materials and equipment required to build the first unit in Cartagena. It also includes a license for Colombia to build complex ships under the SIGMA 10514 model (adjusted to the 10714 design for the country).
In February 2025, Damen and Sweden’s Saab signed an agreement to supply and equip the frigate with the 9LV combat management system and its fire-control system, along with various sensors and radar systems, including the EOS 500 electro-optical system, the Ceros 200 radar, and Sea Giraffe 4A radars.
Damen and Kongsberg Maritime signed a contract on 25 June of the same year to provide the frigate with the integrated propulsion system, including twin controllable-pitch propellers (CPP). These allow the blade angle to be changed without altering the direction of engine rotation, improving maneuverability and the associated shafting systems.
In late September, Damen finalized an agreement for the supply of around 1,325 metric tons of steel, including high-strength naval steel plates and profiles approved for military construction, with supplier De Jong and Lavino (Netherlands). Delivery stages for these materials were agreed for 2025 and 2026 to align with the block-assembly plan.
The Navy’s objective is to fully replace the four Almirante Padilla-class frigates Almirante Padilla, Independiente, Caldas, and Antioquia, as well as the Pohang-class corvette ARC Tono, and to meet the broader goals of the Naval Development Plan 2042. The final unit is expected to be delivered between 2040 and 2042. In addition, by incorporating technology transfer in the contract between Cotecmar and Damen, it is expected that from the second or third frigate onward there will be less dependence on foreign elements and the construction timeline will become more efficient.
By implementing the PES, Colombia moves from being solely a buyer of technology to becoming a developer of sovereign solutions. This project not only обновляет the fleet, but also ensures the nation’s strategic autonomy across its two oceans. Colombia projects itself to the world not only as a guardian of its waters, but as a true naval power, capable of exporting innovation and leadership from the heart of the Caribbean.
*Cover image used for illustrative purposes.
*Translated by Constanza Matteo
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