COTECMAR, Damen Sign Contract for Colombia’s First Locally Built Frigate

The Corporación de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo de la Industria Naval, Marítima y Fluvial (COTECMAR) and the Damen Shipyards Group have signed a contract for technical support and component supply to construct the Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES - Strategic Surface Platform) frigate.

The agreement, signed on August 11, marks the beginning of Colombia's first locally built 107.5-meter long and 14.02-meter wide frigate, based on Damen's SIGMA 10514 model.

With this project, Colombia will join Mexico and Brazil as the only Latin American countries capable of constructing complex naval vessels under license in their own shipyards.

The contract with COTECMAR includes building a frigate, Logistics Support Ship, and Colombian Oceanic Patrol Vessel (POC), all backed by the National Government. The frigate will feature a 76 mm cannon, VLS, CIWS, SSM 700K Hae Sung I anti-ship missiles, and an advanced anti-submarine system with hull-mounted and towed sonar.