BAE Systems pens deal with Damen to provide naval gun system for Colombia’s PES frigate

BAE Systems has received a contract from Damen Naval for a Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun system to be installed for anti-aircraft and anti-surface operations on the Colombian Navy’s PES frigate.

The Bofors 40 Mk4 is a compact and lightweight naval gun system designed for anti-aircraft and anti-surface warfare operations. The programmable 40 mm Bofors 3P ammunition can be programmed in six different function modes.

The gun is scheduled to be installed on the PES frigate in 2029.

“Damen Naval is very pleased that BAE Systems Bofors will strengthen the versatile combat capabilities of the SIGMA 10514 based PES frigate with their Bofors 40 Mk4 for the Colombian Navy,” said Damen Naval Project Director Jasper Oreel.

“As this is the first (direct) procurement contract between BAE Systems Bofors and Damen Naval, we are looking forward to further establishing our business relationship and the PES project execution.”

The PES design is based on the Damen Naval SIGMA 10514 series, which has previously been built for Indonesia and Mexico. Specifically, Damen Naval will provide design, engineering, technical support, and materials to enable Colombia’s shipyard COTECMAR to construct a frigate locally.

The vessel will have a length of 107.5 meters and a beam of 14.02 meters. Swedish company Saab has been contracted to equip the frigate with its advanced 9LV combat management system and 9LV fire control system, alongside sensors and radar systems, including the Ceros 200 radar, EOS 500 electro-optical fire control director, Sea Giraffe 4A radars, among other systems.

The first PES frigate is scheduled to be delivered to the Colombian Navy in 2030.