The Belgian Navy’s BNS Oostende mine fighting vessel was launched by Naval Group. Credit: The Netherlands Ministry of Defence. As informed, the vessel was floated out in Concarneau.
March 29, 2023. French shipbuilder Naval Group has launched the first of the twelve mine countermeasure vessels of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program, M940 Oostende, intended for the Belgian Navy. The new City-class MCMVs will replace the Tripartite-class and Alkmaar-class minehunters.
BNS Oostende, the Belgian Navy’s first mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) delivered under a joint programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, has been launched at a ceremony in Concarneau, France.
M940 Oostende is the first of 12 new City-class ships planned to be procured by the two countries under the rMCM programme, to replace their ageing Tripartite-class and Alkmaar-class ships. Both countries will receive six vessels each.
explosions, the 82.6m-long vessels have very low acoustic, electrical and magnetic signatures.
With a displacement of 2,800t, the vessels can cruise at a maximum speed of 15.3 knots and have a range of more than 3,500 nautical miles.
The MCMV is equipped with the Naval Group Polaris combat system. Drone systems that can be launched from the ship include the Exail UMISOFT System, unmanned surface vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, two towed sonars and two mine identification and disposal systems.