On 3 November 2025, the M940 Oostende, the first mine countermeasures vessel of the rMCM programme, completed its first berthing in Zeebrugge, in the presence of Belgian Minister of Defence Theo Francken, General Frederik Vansina, and representatives from Naval Group and Exail, the industrial leads of the programme.
Awarded in 2019 to the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, formed by Naval Group and Exail, this programme is a model of European cooperation, including a broad industrial cooperation plan and the transfer of know-how to Belgium.
Role of the industrial partners
Naval Group is responsible for the design of the vessels, overall integration, testing, and commissioning of the mission system in coordination with Exail.
Exail is responsible for the UxV mission system, including all drones (surface, underwater, sonars, identification and neutralisation systems), produced and maintained in Belgium through Exail Robotics Belgium.
The rMCM vessels are the first to deploy a fully robotised system for the detection, classification, identification, and neutralisation of mines, while keeping the ship at a safe distance (stand-off concept). They also feature resilience capabilities adapted to mine warfare environments.
Nine other vessels of the series are currently under construction at various stages of progress, with deliveries scheduled through the end of 2030.
This berthing marks a key milestone in the modernisation of Belgian and Dutch mine countermeasures capabilities.
