TSAMTO, June 17. The French company Naval Group announced the keel laying ceremony of the second of 12 minesweepers ordered under the rMCM project on June 14 in Lanester.
This project is jointly implemented by the military departments of Belgium and the Netherlands. The minesweeper "Vlissingen" is intended for delivery to the Dutch Navy.
As reported by TSAMTO, on November 30, 2016, the Defense Ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands signed the first memorandum of understanding on the joint purchase of four frigates and 12 minesweepers.
In July 2019, the Ministries of Defense of Belgium and the Netherlands signed a contract with the consortium Belgium Naval & Robotics selected by the results of the tender (formed by Naval Group and ECA Robotics) for the supply of 12 new mine warfare systems based on minesweepers. Each of the two countries buys six ships equipped with appropriate mine defense systems. The cost of a 10-year contract for the supply and maintenance of systems is estimated at 2.2 billion. euro.
The construction of 12 minesweepers will be carried out by the Kership joint venture formed by Naval Group and Piriou. At the same time, Naval Group acts as the main developer and general contractor, is responsible for the design of ships, general integration, as well as testing and adoption of a combat system and a mine defense system. ECA Group, as a subcontractor, is responsible for the unmanned vehicle system. Their production will be organized at the ECA Group enterprise in Ostend (Belgium). Maintenance of the vessels will be carried out in Belgium jointly by the Belgian Navy and Naval Group Belgium with the participation of Flanders Ship Repair.
Steel cutting for the lead minesweeper began on July 19, 2021, launching took place on November 30, 2021. It is planned that the first ships will be delivered to the Belgian Navy in 2024, and to the Dutch Navy in 2025. The last platform should be delivered in 2030.
The acquired vessels will replace 5 Tripartit-class minesweeping ships of the Belgian Navy, as well as the Godetiya support ship and 6 Tripartit-class minesweeping ships of the Netherlands Navy. The operational life of the existing vessels exceeds 30 years and expires in 2023.
Each new ship will be equipped with modular remotely controlled underwater and surface vehicles that will detect and neutralize enemy mines, as well as UAVs. Thanks to the new application concept, the mothership and its crew will be able to stay at a safe distance from minefields using only unmanned systems. The vessels will be equipped with systems for launching and lifting two surface remotely operated boats Inspector 125 company ECA. The vessel will be able to carry and use three autonomous underwater vehicles A18-M, towed by GAS T18-M, mine identification/destruction systems, including remotely operated vehicles Seascan and K-STER-C.
The length of the ship designed by Naval Group is 82.6 m, width – 17 m, total displacement – 2800 tons, crew – 63 people. The estimated maximum speed is 15.3 knots, the cruising range will be more than 3,500 nautical miles. The 40-mm Bofors 40 Mk.4 artillery unit manufactured by BAE Systems, the 12.7-mm remotely controlled Sea deFNder armament module of FN Herstal, the NS50 radar of Thales, the Sea Eagle EO/IR system of Chess Dynamics, the UMISOFT control system, two GDP V200 Skeldar UAVs of the company will be placed on board UMS Skeldar, two 7-meter inflatable boats with a rigid SOLAS hull, a set of remotely operated vehicles.
