The second ship of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM (replacement Mine Countermeasures) program has begun its first sea trials from Concarneau, France.
It is the first ship of the program for the Royal Netherlands Navy, named Vlissingen.
The trials will evaluate Vlissingen’s performance before its scheduled delivery at the end of 2025.
During the first day at sea, the ship’s propulsion and maneuverability were assessed. Subsequent trials will test all onboard systems.
Other Vessels
The first vessel in the program, Oostende, is undergoing combat system trials and will be delivered to the Belgian Navy in the summer.
Sea trials for the third ship in the program, and the Belgian Navy’s second vessel, Tournai, are set to begin at the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, the fourth rMCM vessel, Scheveningen, was launched for the Royal Netherlands Navy in November 2024.
All 12 vessels — six for each navy — are scheduled for delivery before the end of 2030.
Mine Countermeasure Vessel
The mine countermeasure vessels feature an integrated unmanned system for detecting, classifying, identifying, and neutralizing mines.
They can clear a mined area up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, according to program partner Naval Group.
The vessels are cyber-secure and designed to withstand underwater explosions.
Additionally, they are the first platforms capable of embarking and launching a combination of surface, underwater, and aerial drones
Features
The vessels have very low acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures, making detection difficult for adversaries.
They are 82.6 meters (271 feet) long, 17 meters (56 feet) wide, and have a displacement of 2,800 tons.
They reach a maximum speed of 15.3 knots (28.3 kilometers/17.6 miles per hour) and have a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 kilometers/4,028 miles).
Each vessel can accommodate a crew of 63.
rMCM Program
The program was awarded in 2019 to Belgium Naval & Robotics, a consortium of Naval Group and Exail.
Kership, a joint venture between Piriou and Naval Group, serves as the industrial prime contractor.
Naval Group is responsible for ship design, overall mission system integration, testing, and commissioning.
Manufacturing and assembly are carried out by Kership and Chantier Piriou, under Kership’s industrial management.
Exail is responsible for the drone mission system, with most drones produced and maintained by Exail’s Belgian subsidiary in Ostend.
