Damen Naval has signed a contract with Danish defense company Terma A/S to supply the C-Guard decoy launching system for Colombia’s new Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) frigate. The agreement marks a key milestone in the integration of advanced soft-kill electronic warfare (EW) capabilities into Colombia’s future surface combatant fleet.
Colombia’s PES Program: Strategic Surface Combatant Modernization
The PES (Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie) program is Colombia’s flagship naval modernization initiative aimed at replacing its aging Almirante Padilla-class frigates with a new generation of multi-mission surface combatants. The program envisions the construction of up to four frigates tailored for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defense, and maritime security roles in both littoral and blue-water environments.
In June 2023, Damen Naval was selected as the design partner for the PES program. The platform is based on the proven SIGMA 10514 design—a modular and export-oriented frigate class already in service with navies such as Indonesia and Mexico. The Colombian variant will be constructed locally by state-owned shipbuilder Cotecmar in Cartagena under a technology transfer arrangement that supports domestic industrial development.
Terma C-Guard: A Proven Soft-Kill Defense System
The centerpiece of this latest contract is Terma’s C-Guard decoy launching system—a modular countermeasure suite designed to protect naval vessels against advanced threats including radar-guided and infrared-seeking missiles. C-Guard employs multiple launchers capable of deploying a variety of NATO-standard 130 mm decoys including chaff, flares, and active offboard countermeasures (AOCMs).
C-Guard operates under Terma’s proprietary Soft-Kill Weapon System (SKWS) architecture and integrates with shipborne combat management systems (CMS) via standard interfaces such as STANAG protocols or proprietary data links. It provides automatic threat evaluation and countermeasure deployment using pre-programmed firing doctrines tailored to specific threat types.
- Supports up to six launchers per vessel
- Compatible with Sea Gnat/130 mm NATO rounds
- 360° coverage through sectorized launcher placement
- Can be integrated with ESM/ESM sensors or radar warning receivers
- Operational on over 25 navies globally
Damen-Terma Partnership Expands Beyond Europe
This contract represents a continuation of longstanding cooperation between Damen Naval and Terma. The two firms have collaborated on several previous naval programs including the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Holland-class OPVs and SIGMA-class vessels for export customers. For the Colombian PES program, Terma will deliver engineering support packages alongside hardware deliveries to ensure seamless integration into Cotecmar’s local build process.
The selection of C-Guard also aligns with Colombia’s requirement for interoperable systems that meet NATO standards—despite not being a member state—allowing smoother participation in multinational exercises and potential coalition operations.
Electronic Warfare Trends in Latin American Navies
The inclusion of an advanced soft-kill system like C-Guard reflects growing recognition among Latin American navies of the need for layered survivability solutions amid increasing access to precision-guided munitions by non-state actors and regional rivals. While hard-kill systems like CIWS or SAMs remain critical components of layered defense architectures, soft-kill systems offer cost-effective first lines of defense that can confuse or deflect incoming threats without expending high-value interceptors.
Other regional navies—including Brazil (Tamandaré-class), Chile (Type 23 upgrades), and Peru—have also invested in EW modernization programs incorporating ESM suites, decoy launchers, and radar cross-section reduction measures.
PES Frigate Timeline and Future Capabilities
The first Colombian PES frigate is expected to begin construction at Cotecmar in late 2025 with delivery projected around early 2029 based on current timelines. In addition to soft-kill defenses provided by Terma’s system, the ship will likely feature:
- AESA multifunction radar (likely Thales NS100 or equivalent)
- Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells for medium-range SAMs
- Torpedo launchers and hull-mounted sonar for ASW tasks
- A helicopter hangar supporting ASW rotorcraft such as the SH-60 Seahawk or AW159 Wildcat
The integration of Western-standard sensors and weapons reflects Colombia’s strategic pivot toward NATO-compatible platforms amid growing security cooperation with European partners.
