Third Mine Countermeasure Vessel of Belgian-Dutch Program Launched

Naval Group has announced launching of the Tournai, the third of twelve mine countermeasure vessels in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme, on Tuesday.

Kership, acting as the industrial prime contractor, oversaw the launch on behalf of Naval Group, the programme's overall prime contractor.

Scheduled for delivery to the Belgian Navy in 2026, the Tournai follows the footsteps of its predecessors, the Oostende and Vlissingen, which were launched in March 2023 and October 2023 respectively. The rMCM programme, initiated in 2019 and awarded to the consortium Belgium Naval & Robotics (comprising Naval Group and Exail), aims to supply twelve advanced mine countermeasure vessels equipped with drone technology to both the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies. This effort also includes providing a suite of drones integrated into the vessels' operations, enhancing their capability to detect and neutralize mines effectively.

Underpinning the European defence cooperation framework, this programme not only strengthens maritime security for Belgium and the Netherlands but also extends its benefits through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2023. This agreement allows France to adopt the rMCM ship design, facilitated by Thales, for equipping its own navy with six vessels. The collaboration underscores Europe's ability to forge unified solutions in naval defence.

Naval Group's role as the principal architect and prime contractor encompasses the design, integration, testing, and commissioning of the ships' mission systems. Meanwhile, Kership, in collaboration with Piriou, oversees the industrial production of the vessels in Concarneau and Lanester. Exail, based in Ostend, Belgium, manages the UAV mission systems critical to the vessels' operational readiness, with maintenance and support operations centered in Belgium, facilitated by Naval Group Belgium and Flanders Ship Repair in Zeebrugge.

Characterized by their specifications—82.6 meters in length, 17 meters in width, and a displacement of 2800 tons—the minehunters boast capabilities including the deployment of surface, underwater, and aerial drones. These vessels are designed to withstand underwater explosions while maintaining minimal acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures—a crucial feature for their mine clearance missions.

Operating at a maximum speed of 15.3 knots, they boast a range exceeding 3500 nautical miles and accommodate up to 63 personnel. Equipped with advanced UAV capabilities, including the UMISOFT Exail system, the vessels are capable of deploying a comprehensive array of drones essential for mine countermeasures. This includes 2 surface drones (Inspector 125 Exail), 3 autonomous underwater vehicles (A-18 with UMISAS 120 Exail sonar), 2 towed sonars (T-18 with UMISAS 240 Exail sonar), 2 mine identification and destruction systems (Seascan and K-Ster C Exail), and 2 aerial drones (V200 Saab Skeldar). Additionally, they feature a specialized Exail influence dredger with magnetic modules from CTM and an acoustic module from PATRIA. For operational flexibility, each vessel accommodates 2 RHIB SOLAS 7m boats and is equipped with handling systems including 2 side gantries with floating cradles for 18-ton surface drones and commando boats, a 15-ton stern crane, and a 3-ton overhead crane.