Page 20: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2011)

20 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

By Jurrien Noot

Primary guidance document for developments in the Colombian defense sector between 2007 and 2010 is a policy paper published on 26 February 2007 by the 'Consejo Nacional de Política

Económica y Social' (COMPES) entitled 'Política de

Consolidación de la Seguridad Democrática: Fort- alecimiento de las Capacidades del Sector Defensa y Seguridad' which lays out in some detail the pro- gram priorities and defense spending for the period.

The document specifies that the Ministry of defense requires an overall level of spending on the order of

COP57.9 billion for the four years.

Plan Orion

Plan Orion is the designation of a plan for the de- velopment of the Colombian Navy over a period of 20 years. Plan Orion also includes a mid life mod- ernization of the four FS 1500 type frigates and the two Type 209/1200 submarines with contracts awarded to COTECMAR in December 2007.

Proyecto Faro

Proyecto Faro is a concept development study con- ducted by the Navy and COTECMAR for the con- struction of a medium surface combatant type vessel in the 2025 timeframe. It is believed to be a pro- jected replacement for the FS 1500 class frigates.

Patrullero de Zona Economica Exclusiva and

Patrullero de Costa programme

COTECMAR was awarded a contract during 2007 to acquire the licenses for two OPV designs for the construction at COTECMAR of two different OPV type vessels. The design selected for the Patrullero de Zona Economica is the 80.6 m Fassmer OPV 80 while the Patrullero de Costa will apparently be based on the Damen Stan Patrol 4207. A funding scheme has been formulated which foresees a total expenditure of COP16,250 million in 2007,

COP21,547 million in 2008, COP75,179 million in 2009 and COP28,421 million in 2010. Main arma- ment will consist of a 40 mm gun. The Colombian

Navy has formulated a requirement for four Pa- trullero de Zona Economica and eight Patrullro de

Costa but funding levels will only allow three of the first and six of the second. Under the 2007-2010 funding scheme one Patrullero de Zona Economica and two Patrullero de Costa will be constructed. The construction contract was to be awarded in 2009.

The Fassmer OPV 80 vessel was launched on 25

July 2010 as the 20 de Julio.

Nodriza Londono PAFP Heavy River Patrol Boat

COTECMAR was awarded a contract in 2007 by the Colombia Navy for the construction of two

Nodriza Londone class river patrol boats (units 7 and 8) at a cost of COP35,643,960,000. The two units were delivered on 25 March 2009 as the TECIM

Freddy Alexander Pérez Rodríguez and TECIM

Edic Cristian Reyes Holguín. These represent the third variant of the design of which two units were already completed between 2005 and 2007. 32 m PAFL Light River Patrol Boat Program

COTECMAR was awarded a contract in 2007 by the Colombia Navy for the construction of two 32 m Patrulleras de Apoyo Fluvial Livianas at a cost of

COP35,520,981,830. Both are under construction.

Available information indicates that four units are planned.

EMAF Riverine Support Mobile Station Program

A contract was awarded on 17 October 2007 for the construction and delivery of four EMAF at a total cost of COP10.242.800.000. A contract for an additional one may have been placed earlier during 2008. Available information indicates that 12 units are planned. The stations will each support a marine platoon and four riverine patrol craft.

Midnight Express Interceptor Craft Program

Plan Orion calls for the acquisition of ten 12 m

Midnight Express interceptor craft. It appears that this is a continuation of an existing program under which 14 have already been delivered.

FEATURE NAVY

Colombia “Plan Orion” Drives Navy Newbuild Program

Colombia Defense Budget (Amounts in COP)

Item 2007 2008 2009 2010

Operating budget 6069263579252 7076266000000 n/a 8321421475708

Investment budget 1007394100000 2954184000000 n/a 1642369489233

Total 7076657679252 10030450000000 n/a 9963790964941

Nodriza PAFP III undergoing trials. (Photo: Cotecmar)