ARM Reformador, a Pola-class frigate built in Mexico for the country’s navy, has completed sea trials.
The milestone was achieved 13 months after the 107-meter ship was launched at the ASTIMAR 20 naval shipyard in Salina Cruz.
ARM Reformador was built in cooperation with Dutch shipbuilder Damen who provided the design for the vessel and built sections of the ship at its shipyard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands.
The sea trials included testing of platform and combat systems in addition to training of Mexican Navy crews. The completion of the trials took place a few weeks ahead of the contracted schedule, according to Damen. The shipbuilder also noted that the Reformador was the tenth SIGMA-design vessels delivered by the company.
Other countries that have built SIGMA vessels include Indonesia and Morocco.
ARM Reformador started modular construction in August 2017. The 2,570-ton ship was built in six modules, two at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen and four in Mexico.
The ship will carry Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) surface-to-air missiles, MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes and an 8-cell MK56 VLS launcher along with Evolved Seasparrow Missiles (ESSM).
Handover to the navy is scheduled for early 2020.
“This project is having a very positive impact on the local economy. More than 70% of the labour is being realised in Mexico – creating jobs and enabling local companies to develop their skills,” notes Horacio Delgado, Damen’s commercial manager for Mexico. “Thanks to our excellent cooperation with the Mexican Navy, we are ensuring that this vessel is being built in Mexico, by Mexicans, and for Mexicans.”
