The Royal Netherlands Navy has taken delivery of its initial mine countermeasure vessel under the Belgian – Dutch Replacement Mine Countermeasures (rMCM) program. The program involves a total of 12 vessels, with six Vlissingen – class platforms for the Netherlands and six City – class vessels for Belgium, scheduled to be operational by 2030 and replace their aging minehunting fleets.
While “Vlissingen” is the first of the Dutch rMCMs, it represents the second vessel delivered under the broader initiative, following the delivery of the Belgian Navy’s Oostende (M940) in November 2025. “For the first time within our BeNeSam cooperation framework, a Royal Netherlands Navy vessel has been built under contract by the Belgian Ministry of Defence — a milestone in which Belgium, acting as lead nation, helps deliver a naval ship for another country, “ said Captain Ludo Portier, Section Head of Procurement Naval Systems.
Replacement MCM Vessels
In 2019, the rMCM project was awarded to Belgium Naval & Robotics, a consortium consisting of the French companies Naval Group and Exail. The vessels are capable of carrying and deploying uncrewed systems from Exail, including two Inspector 125 uncrewed surface vehicles and three A-18 autonomous underwater vehicles, as well as two V200 Skeldar aerial drones from Saab. They also feature a robotic system for mine detection, classification, identification, and neutralization.
Measuring 82.6 meters (270 feet) long and 17 meters (55 feet) wide, each platform can accommodate 63 personnel. With a 2,800 – ton displacement, it sails at a top speed of 15.3 knots (28.3 kilometers / 17.6 miles per hour) and features a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (4,028 miles / 6,482 kilometers). While Naval Group designs the vessels, Exail is responsible for the delivery of the naval drones and the mission system’s overall integration, testing, and commissioning. French shipbuilder Piriou — under the industrial project management of Kership, a joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou — conducts the construction and assembly.
In 2023, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands signed a tripartite agreement to formalize their cooperation in the field of mine warfare. However, instead of receiving MCM vessels under the deal, Paris will gain access to the rMCM design and technology to use for its separate series of mine warfare motherships, under the broader French program SLAM-F.
- The Defense Post