The Oostende, the premier mine countermeasures vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme designated for the Belgian Navy, embarked on its initial sea trials from Concarneau on 17 July 2024.
This trial phase aims to assess the vessel’s performance ahead of its scheduled delivery in summer 2025. The rMCM programme, led by Belgium Naval & Robotics – a consortium comprising Naval Group and Exail – involves Kership (a joint venture between Piriou and Naval Group) as the industrial prime contractor.
“This first test campaign for a production ship is a technically very important and symbolically very powerful moment: it is the first time that a ship of this type has taken to sea, and this has been possible thanks to the mobilisation of our teams and our partners since the construction of this ship was launched three years ago,” stated Clémence Picard-Destelan, Naval Group’s onboard manager for the test campaign.
Launched in 2021, the Oostende was set afloat on 29 March 2023, followed by the second vessel, the Vlissingen, for the Royal Netherlands Navy, on 19 October 2023, and the Tournai on 24 June 2024. The fourth ship, the Scheveningen, is expected to launch in December 2024. Seven of the twelve ships in the series are currently under construction, each at varying stages of completion.
The Oostende is slated for delivery in Zeebrugge, Belgium, in summer 2025, with the subsequent ships to be delivered progressively until mid-2030.
Awarded in 2019 to Belgium Naval & Robotics, the rMCM programme is a significant component of European defence cooperation. Naval Group is responsible for ship design, overall integration, and testing and commissioning of the mission system. The ships are constructed and assembled by Piriou, under the industrial project management of Kership. Exail oversees the drones’ mission system, with most of these drones being produced and maintained in Belgium.
The solution procured by the Belgian and Dutch navies represents a paradigm shift in mine warfare, keeping the ship and its control and mine-fighting personnel at a safe distance from danger. This approach also allows the clearance of mined areas ten times faster than traditional methods.
These mine countermeasure vessels measure 82.6 metres in length and 17 metres in width, with a displacement of 2,800 tonnes. Crewed by 63 personnel, they can reach a maximum speed of 15.3 knots and have a range exceeding 3,500 nautical miles.
The vessels are equipped with the Exail UMISOFT System, including two unmanned surface vehicles (Exail Inspector 125), three autonomous underwater vehicles (A-18 with Exail UMISAS 120 sonar), two towed sonars (T-18 with Exail UMISAS 240 sonar), two Mine Identification & Disposal Systems (Exail Seascan and K-Ster C), two unmanned aerial vehicles (UMS Skeldar’s V200), and one Exail influence mine sweeping system integrating five CTM magnetic modules and one PATRIA acoustic module.
Additionally, the vessels have an embarkation capacity for two SOLAS rigid hull inflatable boats, each measuring 7 metres. For handling operations, they are equipped with two side launch and recovery systems for surface drones or commando boats, a 15-tonne dedicated rear crane, and a 3-tonne overhead crane.
Turkey's leading defence company Aselsan, which is making its first appearance at Farnborough, is showcasing air radar, communication, electro-optical and…
Indra has integrated the Spanish startup IDBOTIC into the Next Generation Weapon System/Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS) programme, the most…
Scoot, the budget airline subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), has revealed the launch of a new flight route to Subang,…
Marking the return of international airshows to Indonesia after nearly thirty years, the organiser of the Bali International Airshow 2024…
South Korean Aerospace firm Hanwha Aerospace will showcase the prototype of a homegrown 15,000lb.-thrust-class turbofan engine on par with GE’s…
The Singapore Army is set to complete the transition from the Ultimax 100 SAW (Section Automatic Weapon) to the Colt…
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Ohio Youngstown Air Reserve Station,…
Challenge Group has announced the appointment of Eyjolfur (Eyvi) Vestmann Ingolfsson as its new Head of Materials and Logistics, aimed…
SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SATS Ltd (SATS), SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC), and Changi Airport…
INJAZ Al-Arab, a Jordan-based non-profit education and training organisation and a member of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, has partnered with…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) officially accepted the delivery of its initial pair of AT-6TH Wolverine turboprop aircraft in…
TransNusa is set to become the first foreign airline to operate from Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport, commonly known as Subang…
SATS Ltd, a Singapore-based provider of air cargo handling services and food solutions, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has chosen the Swedish-manufactured SAAB JAS 39E/F Gripen over the American Lockheed Martin F-16…
Batik Air Malaysia has unveiled two new routes from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand, with Hat Yai and Krabi being the…
Boeing and Emirates SkyCargo have announced an order for five additional 777 freighters. The purchase takes Emirates' order book to 245…
Boeing aircraft will be conspicuous by their near-total absence from the show, but the American OEM is expected to walk…
Eve Air Mobility will provide an update on key program milestones, including its first full-scale prototype, at the Farnborough Air…
Boeing, which is not bringing any of its commercial jets to this year's Farnborough Airshow, will instead focus on highlighting…
Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Smitha Hariharan as vice president and chief sustainability officer, effective immediately. In the newly created role,…
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been upgraded to an 'A' credit rating by S&P Global Ratings, with a stable outlook.…
Qantas will likely use a North Pole route to achieve its Project Sunrise Sydney to London nonstop with the A350-1000…
Fincantieri marked an important milestone with the launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship), named "Domenico Millelire," at the…
Sierra Space Corporation, in collaboration with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Kanematsu Corporation, and Oita Prefecture, has announced the inclusion of…
The Malaysian Army has recently announced a tender inviting local companies to supply and deliver 800 M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon…
China has proposed supplying the Type 052D destroyer to the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) as part of a broader effort…
Following the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, reports suggest that the Philippines…
The U.S. military has awarded SRC, Inc. a contract worth USD 25 million to develop the Long-Range Radar, a large…
Australia’s largest international air combat training exercise, Exercise Pitch Black, is set to take place from 12 July to 2…
The Spanish space launcher company, PLD Space, has secured a EUR31.2 million syndicated loan with Banco Santander, EBN Banco, and…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.