Damen Naval contracts Terma to provide C-Guard decoy system for Colombia’s PES frigate

Damen Naval contracted Danish defence technology company Terma A/S to supply its C-Guard decoy launching system for integration on the PES frigate currently under construction for the Colombian Navy, Damen announced on 8 October 2025.

The C-Guard system significantly enhances the frigate’s survivability. It features advanced anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) modules designed to protect the ship against a wide range of incoming threats.

The Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) frigate is based on Damen Naval’s SIGMA 10514 design and will be the first of its kind built in Colombia, in close co-operation with state-owned shipbuilder COTECMAR. Damen signed a contract with COTECMAR on 27 September 2022 for the co-development of the design for the next generation of Colombian Navy frigates.

The contract between Damen and Terma reflects a strong alliance between the two northern European defence partners. Their co-operation brings together decades of expertise and proven technology to support the PES frigate programme while strengthening their positions as trusted partners for Colombia and the broader Latin American region.

“We are pleased to integrate Terma’s advanced C-Guard system into the PES frigate,” Jasper Oreel, project director at Damen Naval, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Its proven performance and modular configuration are a strong match for the mission versatility of the SIGMA 10514 platform. We look forward to successful project execution and continued co-operation with Terma.”

Martin T Jentsch, director for naval sales at Terma, added, “We are proud of the relationship and trust received by Damen Naval and we welcome the opportunity to work even closer, not only with Damen Naval but also the Colombian Navy. With the selection of Terma’s C-Guard decoy system, this platform has opted for a future-proof round agnostics and automatic countermeasure system, with more than 150 systems in operation.”

The PES frigate is scheduled for delivery to the Colombian Navy in 2030.