Keel laid for first Belgian-Dutch rMCM minehunter
A rendering of the future rMCM programme ships and associated drones. (Image: Naval Group)
The first ship of six for Belgium will be named BNS Ostende.
On 30 November, Naval Group laid the keel for the first of 12 mine countermeasure vessels (MCMVs) under the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme. A Naval Group-Piriou joint venture, Kership, will produce the ships in Concarneau, France.
Delivery of the first example is scheduled for the end of 2024, with the remainder staggered until 2030. Piriou will arm the ships when afloat, with Naval Group responsible for design, integration, testing and commissioning the mission system.
The contract for the programme, awarded to Naval Group/ECA Group consortium Belgium Naval & Robotics in 2019, covers supply of the ships and around 100 drones to equip a toolbox on the vessels. ECA Group will produce the drones in Ostend, Belgium.
The MCMVs will utilise a fully robotic system for the detection, classification and neutralisation of undersea mines.
Shephard Defence Insight estimates the programme cost for rMCM to be €966 million for the Netherlands and €887 million for Belgium. Both nations will receive six vessels.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Netherlands]
Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Belgium]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Norway invites four nations to talk partnerships over new frigates]()
Norway invites four nations to talk partnerships over new frigates
The US, the UK, France and Germany each have existing frigate programmes.
-
![Can the US Navy afford its plans to operate a manned/unmanned fleet?]()
Can the US Navy afford its plans to operate a manned/unmanned fleet?
Budgetary constraints and the annual procurement rate could impact the branch’s intention to have a hybrid fleet.
-
![Germany and Finland suspect “hybrid sabotage” of undersea infrastructure]()
Germany and Finland suspect “hybrid sabotage” of undersea infrastructure
Without naming a culprit, the defence ministers of both nations expressed concern about “deliberate” severing of undersea internet cables.
-
![US Navy commissions littoral ship Nantucket]()
US Navy commissions littoral ship Nantucket
The vessel will be the 14th Freedom-class littoral ship in the Navy’s current fleet.
-
![Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast]()
Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast
One of the vessels present in both cases was armed with hypersonic cruise missiles.
