Possible Modernisation Before Handover Under Discussion

Subsequent to an agreement signed between South Korea and the Colombian Navy (ARC) in April last year, the Asian nation is to donate a second corvette to the service.

Tentatively christened the ARC BOYACA, the vessel is forecast to be available by the middle of the year. It will likely be another patrol combat corvette of the DONGHAE-class, one of which was already donated to Colombia in 2014 and christened ARC NARIÑO. Decisions are currently in progress as to whether part of its detection and weapons systems will also be transferred, but the vessel will be handed over with its General Electric LM-2500 turbines intact.

A possible modernisation programme is also under discussion, to be conducted in South Korea with budget and personnel to be provided by Colombia’s Cotecmar shipyard.

Santiago Rivas and Florencia Lucero Heguy in Buenos Aires for MON