ExpoDefensa 2019: Naval Group Gowind frigate and Scorpene-class submarine to modernize Colombian navy.

French Company Naval Group promotes its Gowind® multimission frigate and Scorpene-class submarine at ExpoDefensa 2019, the International Defense Exhibition in Bogota, Colombia. Naval Group is the European leader in naval defence and has been the main partner of the French Navy for over four centuries. Naval Group is one of the rare players in the naval industry to have the capacity to design, build, service and upgrade surface combatants as well as submarines, but also naval infrastructures and naval bases.

Naval Group Gowind frigate of Egyptian navy (Picture source Twitter)

Naval Group has been working with Colombia on the modernization of the Padilla frigates since 2008 and has set up a Regional Representative Office in Bogota to reinforce its partnership with the naval defence industry in the region and as well as its participation to the naval defence projects launched by the Colombian navy and neighboring countries.

The Colombian Navy initiated in 2015 the replacement of the Padilla frigates (PES=Plataforma Estrategica de Superficie). This program requires the new ships to be built locally which will involve the development of a naval cluster through intergovernmental, industrial, academic and scientific cooperation. On the longer run, the Colombian Navy will also need to replace its submarine fleet.

Naval Group would like to continue the modernization of the Colombian Navy offering the latest generation of frigate with the Gowind® and Scorpene-class submarine. Gowind® is the multimission frigate proposed to Colombia for PES program. Gowind® is Naval Group’s response to 21st century defence and security challenges. The platform combines high survivability characteristics with outstanding anti-air (AAW), anti-surface (ASuW) and anti-submarine (ASW) warfare performances thanks to the MU90 and to the CANTO®-V.

The Gowind® is operated with the SETIS®. This state-of-the-art combat is combat-proven on the French Navy’s FREMM frigates and interoperable with NATO systems. It provides the operator with the best management and decision-making aids, ensuring the Gowind® supremacy over conventional and asymmetric threats.

Nine of the ten Gowind® vessels contracted are being built with foreign partners in Malaysia and Egypt. The first Gowind® built in Egypt was launched on September 6, 2018.

The Colombian frigate ARC Almirante Padilla (FM 51) patrols the northern approach of the Panama Canal. (Source picture Wikimedia)

Scorpène® is the conventional submarine proposed to Colombia for its fleet replacement. Naval Group combines a unique platform and combat system skills to provide operational superiority and safety benefiting from the French Navy legacy. Naval Group contributes to strengthening the sovereignty of its customers through long-term partnerships, industrial cooperation and through-life support services, as proven by its strong credentials.

Scorpène® is ideally suited for action and operational effectiveness. Robust and enduring, it’s an ocean-going submarine also designed for shallow waters operations. Multipurpose, it fulfills the entire scope of missions such as Anti-Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, special operations, offensive minelaying and intelligence gathering.

Standing as the latest generation of combat system, SUBTICS® addresses the growing challenges of modern submarines missions in blue and shallow waters such as Anti-Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, intelligence gathering, land-attack or deep strike.

Highly modular and scalable, SUBTICS® can be integrated either on new platforms or as part of modernisation programmes for existing submarines.

Naval Group Scorpene-class submarine (Picture source Naval Group)