Naval Group Launches 2nd Belgian-Dutch Mine Countermeasure Vessel

Naval Group has launched Vlissingen, second of the twelve mine countermeasure vessels constructed as part of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program, on October 19, 2023.

The vessel, constructed by Kership in Concarneau. The rMCM program, awarded to Belgium Naval & Robotics in 2019, is a consortium comprised of Naval Group and Exail. It involves the delivery of twelve mine countermeasure vessels equipped with a comprehensive arsenal of drones integrated within the ships.

Naval Group, the program's overall architect and prime contractor, is responsible for ship design, integration, and the testing and commissioning of mission systems. Kership, a joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou, is tasked with producing the twelve vessels, which are assembled in Concarneau and Lanester. Meanwhile, Exail, as the co-contractor, oversees the unmanned drone system, with a significant portion of the drone production occurring in Ostend, Belgium. Ship maintenance will be conducted in close collaboration between the Belgian Navy, Naval Group Belgium, and Flanders Ship Repair.

The Vlissingen, the second vessel of the program and the first one intended for the Royal Netherlands Navy, is slated for delivery in 2025. Earlier this year, the first vessel, Oostende, intended for the Belgian Navy, was successfully launched on March 29, 2023. Furthermore, the keel for the third vessel, the M941 Tournai, also intended for the Belgian Navy, has been laid. The keel for the fourth vessel, the Scheveningen, the second intended for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was laid on July 19, 2023. The Oostende's delivery is scheduled for the end of 2024 in Zeebrugge, Belgium, with staggered deliveries of the remaining vessels continuing until 2030.

The rMCM program stands as a testament to European defense collaboration, emphasizing that European countries can unite to define their needs and develop solutions that set global standards. In September 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, allowing France to utilize the rMCM vessel design to equip the French Navy.

The mine countermeasure vessels are the first vessels capable of embarking and deploying surface, underwater, and aerial drones for mine detection, classification, and neutralization. These vessels are designed to withstand underwater explosions and maintain extremely low acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures, aligning with their mission objectives.

Key features of these mine countermeasure vessels include:

• Length: 82.6 meters
• Width: 17 meters
• Displacement: 2800 tons
• Maximum Speed: 15.3 knots
• Range: Over 3500 nautical miles
• Crew: 63 people (base crew 33 people)
• Drone Capabilities: Exail UMISOFT System, 2 unmanned surface vehicles (Exail Inspector 125), 3 autonomous underwater vehicles (A-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 120 sonar), 2 towed sonars (T-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 240 sonar), 2 Mine Identification & Disposal Systems (MIDS) systems (Exail Seascan and K-Ster C), 2 unmanned aerial vessels (UMS Skeldar’s V200), 1 Exail influence mine sweeping system integrating 5 CTM magnetic modules, and 1 PATRIA acoustic module
• Embarkation Capacity: 2 SOLAS rigid hull inflatable boats of 7 meters
• Handling: 2 side launch & recovery systems for surface drones or commando boats, a 15-ton dedicated rear crane, and a 3-ton overhead crane.