Second rMCM vessel begins sea trials, advances autonomous minesweeping
The rMCM programme will ultimately comprise of 12 vessels, six each working for the Belgian and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The navies of Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal have set up a joint working arrangement with EID for the latest Integrated Communications Control System (ICCS6) system, the company announced on 23 January.
A contract with a maximum value of €15 million (US$17 million) is to be awarded by the Portuguese government for the supply of ten ICCS6 systems. Five systems will be installed on board Portuguese ships: two M-class frigates (Bartolomeu Dias and Dom Francisco de Almeida) and 3 Vasco da Gama class frigates.
Three systems will be fitted to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) M-Class frigates and the landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam. The two M-class frigates of the Belgian Navy (Leopold I and Louise-Marie) will also be upgraded.
The first vessel to receive ICCS6 will be a RNLN frigate whereas the last one will be a Portuguese MEKO200 in 2020.
ICCS6 features Internet Protocol technology and was designed specifically to provide an efficient ships communications management tool. With a high degree of automation, the system uses a modular and flexible concept, capable of being tailored and configured to meet the communications requirements of any type of warship.
The rMCM programme will ultimately comprise of 12 vessels, six each working for the Belgian and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The US Government has awarded a significant contract to move along its Polar Security Cutter programme.
The deal, which has been planned since August 2024, is part of an ongoing attempt to bolster Australia’s defences against the potential of Chinese aggression.
Four shipbuilders have been downselected to build the frigate replacement programme, and TKMS hopes the new deal will give it a geographical advantage.
The tripartite submarine project is under political pressure from a grass-roots Australian Labor Party movement, but it could also have practical issues in its way.
DDG 129, which will become the USS Jeremiah Denton on commissioning, was moved to dry dock to begin its technical fitting and testing.