1 × ECA Inspector 125 unmanned vessel which deploys the drones[19] equipped with an Exail FLS-5 sonar[10])
Others:
Exail influence dragger with five integrated CTM magnetic modules
1 × overhead crane
1 × stern crane
The Netherlands and Belgium are conducting a joint procurement for the replacements of the Tripartite-class/Alkmaar-classminehunters. Each of the two countries is procuring six new mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels, which makes for a total of 12 MCM ships.[20] The new MCM ships, developed by Naval Group, will include a range of unmanned systems including unmanned surface, aerial and underwater vehicles alongside towed sonars and mine identification and neutralization remotely operated vehicles.[21]
In early 2018, the Belgian and Dutch Navies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint construction and financing of the ships.[citation needed] A list of requirements was drawn up for the new vessels. Contenders in the race were:
The Franco-Belgium consortium made up of French shipbuilders STX France and Socarenam, and Thales together with Belgium's EDR are bidding for the 12 new MCM vessels. Their plan includes the construction of MCM vessels named Sea Naval Solutions and a multi-role frigate named Deviceseas, which will serve as mothership to the MCM vessels. All ships will have a strong focus on autonomous systems operations.[22]
France's Naval Group and ECA Robotics[fr] established Belgian subsidiary Naval & Robotics and bid for the program.[23][24]
The contract was won by Naval Group and ECA Robotics on 15 March 2019.[23][24]
The mine countermeasures vessels have a length of 82 meters and displace 2,800 tonnes.[25] The new vessels take a new approach to their task: instead of clearing mines directly from the ship, the ship uses unmanned systems to do this from a distance.[26] There are a total of around 80 unmanned systems aboard the vessels.[27]
Construction
Oostende under construction at Concarneau in 2024
A first steel cutting ceremony for the first-in-class ship for the Belgian Navy was held on 19 July 2021, with the keel being laid on 30 November 2021.[citation needed] Delivery of the first ship to the Belgian Navy is anticipated in 2024 and to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2025.[28] The first ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy started on the 4 March 2022, with a steel cutting ceremony.[citation needed] The keel was laid on 14 June 2022.[29]
On 8 May 2024, the Belgian Ministry of Defence announced that contractor Belgium Naval & Robotics requested a delay to the construction of the first four vessels citing unforeseen circumstances. The delay caused the first vessel, Oostende, to be delivered eight months later than initially planned, pushing her commissioning back to 2025.[30] The second vessel, Vlissingen, is to be five-to-six months delayed, with Tournai and Scheveningen also seeing delays of two and one month(s) respectively.[31]
In July 2024, it was reported that the first mine countermeasures vessel, Oostende, had begun its sea trials.[32]
In November 2024 it was reported that operational qualification of the drone toolbox is planned to start during the first half of 2025.[33]
Equipment
Mission bay
The deployment system for the RHIB and the unmanned surface vessel was developed by Naval Group.[34] The mission bay is to be equipped with the "Launch and recovery system"(LARS).[35]
Drones
Surface vessels
The ECA Group[fr] INSPECTOR 125 unmanned surface vessel was ordered to be a centerpiece of the system. It has a low signature (magnetic and acoustic) which would prevent a mine from being triggered. The vessel is also designed to be unsinkable.[19] Its mission is focused on communications and deployment of the drones.[5] This vessel can be deployed from the mission bay by a handling system.[35]
Belgium gave the green-light to start the procurement on 26 January 2018 and approved a budget of 1.1 billion euros for the six Belgian MCM ships. Besides the Tripartite-class minehunters, the ships will also replace the Belgian logistical support ship Godetia.[36]
At Euronaval 2022, a partnership was signed between the Belgian, Dutch and French navies to enhance cooperation between them. As a result, the French Navy intends to order six vessels based on the City-class design to fulfill the role of BDGM motherships planned in the ongoing SLAM-F mine warfare program.[38][39]
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