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.
As Tehran and Moscow continue military cooperation, Iran has acquired advanced Sukhoi-35 fighter jets from Russia to bolster its military…
Israeli company Smartshooter has unveiled its latest counter-UAS (C-UAS) solution: Smash Dome. The lightweight, portable, and adaptable solution supports both…
The Israeli ministry of defence is evacuating a new shopping list submitted by Morocco. Israeli defence sources said that the…
Sentrycs has introduced HORIZON, an AI-driven counter-drone system designed to detect a wide range of DIY drones, including those that…
Terma has signed a contract with Swiss aerospace and telecommunications company SWISSto12 to supply key equipment for the HummingSat project,…
The first of the two Airbus-built new generation SpainSat satellites, SpainSat NG-I, has been successfully launched on a Falcon 9…
Embraer has begun accepting applications for its Social Tech Careers programme, a free technology training initiative designed for women and…
A renaming ceremony was held at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard on Wednesday (Jan. 29) for two Multipurpose Combat Ships / Pattugliatore…
Switzerland-based JEKTA, the manufacturer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has formed two new strategic partnerships to enhance its…
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence and EDGE, a prominent advanced technology and defence group, have signed a letter of intent…
Boom Supersonic has announced the successful first supersonic flight of the company's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft at Mojave Air & Space…
BlackSky Technology Inc. has signed a seven-year contract worth over $100 million with a long-term strategic partner in the international…
Malaysia will equip one of its Lekiu-class frigates with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), an anti-ship surface-to-surface missile developed by…
The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies full-rate Manpack and Leader radio production orders under the Handheld, Manpack & Small…
L3Harris recently attached an advanced multirole electronic warfare (EW) capability to a T7 robot and demonstrating it at Vanguard 2024,…
Airbus Helicopters secured 455 gross orders (450 net) in 2024, demonstrating robust market growth with notable demand for its light,…
Piaggio Aerospace, encompassing Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation, has signed a preliminary contract to transfer its business complexes to…
Calian Group Ltd. has announced the appointment of Major-General (Ret.) Roch Pelletier to the newly established position of Regional Vice…
Airnguru, a provider of airline fare management and pricing optimisation solutions, has announced significant financial progress and growth milestones. The…
AMMROC, a UAE-based provider of military maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with…
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD has signed a contract worth about $80 million with Elbit Systems for the development…
As part of the Italy-Saudi Arabia institutional round table, ELT Group has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with SAMI Advanced…
Leonardo, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA), and General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding…
Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers around the world in 2024. The commercial aircraft business registered 878 gross…
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has concluded the Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) for its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM…
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver propulsion and manoeuvring systems for two new KCR-70 Fast Attack Craft (FAC)…
Representatives from KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales gathered in Paris to formalise the creation of the "MGCS…
ST Engineering's Commercial Aerospace business has signed a five-year CFM LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with new…
Embraer is working with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to expand the use of renewable energy at its U.S.…
The use of the combat-proven Rafael Spyder air defence system in the ongoing war in Israel has created interest in…
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
2025 GBP all rights reserved.