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Artist impression of the MCM
Class overview
Name	City class (Belgium) Vlissingen class (Netherlands)
Builders	Piriou Concarneau [fr] (France) Kership Lorient [fr] (France) Shipyard ATG Giurgiu (Romania)
Operators	Belgian Navy  Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded by	Tripartite class Alkmaar class
Cost	€166.67 million per unit
Built	Since November 2021
In commission	Planned from August 2025
Planned	12
Building	6
Completed	0
General characteristics
Type	Mine countermeasures vessel
Displacement	2,800 t (2,800 long tons) full load
Length	82.30 m (270 ft 0 in)
Beam	17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draught	3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)
Installed power	32 MW (43,000 hp)
Propulsion	CODLAD: 1 × ABC 12VDZC diesel generator 2 × ABC 6DZC diesel generators 2 × MEP electric motors (1,800 kW each) Propellers: 2 × Wärtsila axles with fixed pitch screws 2 × Wärtsila transverse bow thrusters 1 × Wärtsila transverse stern thruster
Speed	15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph)
Complement	33 to 63
Sensors and processing systems	Systems Combat system: Naval Group Polaris system Drone management system and data analysis: UMISOFT suite Naval Group Multi-Drone Mission System (MDMS) Containerized Command and Control Centre with the Mine Warfare System (MWS) Sonars: Bow sonar: iXblue [fr] FLS 60 Towed sonar:ECA T18-M Autonomous drone with sonar for mine detection: ECA A18-M AUV (equipped with Exail UMISAS 120 sonar) Radars: Naval surveillance radar: Terma Scanter 6000 Target tracking radar: Thales NS50 AESA Electro-optical sensors: 2 × Sea Eagle FCEO stabilised cameras (HD and infrared) with laser rangefinder, (by Chess Dynamics) Communications: Saab TactiCall ICS communication suite Navigation iXblue inertial navigation system Underwater drones: ECA Seascan MK2 (identifying mine) ECA K-STER C (disabling mines)' Patria Sonac ACS - Acoustic Minesweeping Systems drone Electronics for the drones by ST Engineering iDirect Belgium, a subcontractor of Exail
Armament	Guns: 1 × BAE Bofors 40 Mk4 2 × FN Herstal Sea deFNder (with FN M3R machine guns) 4 × FN MAG (general-purpose machine guns on board) Non-lethal weapons: 2 × water cannon 2 × Long-range acoustic device (LRAD)
Aircraft carried	2 × UMS Skeldar V-200 unmanned aerial vehicles
Notes	Surface boats: 2 × 7 m SOLAS Viking RHIB 1 × ECA Inspector 125 unmanned vessel which deploys the drones equipped with an Exail FLS-5 sonar) Others: Exail influence dragger with five integrated CTM magnetic modules 1 × overhead crane 1 × stern crane

The Netherlands and Belgium are doing a joint procurement for the replacements of the Tripartite-class/Alkmaar-class minehunters. Each of the two countries is procuring six new mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels, which makes for a total of 12 MCM ships. The new MCM ships, developed by Naval Group, will include a range of unmanned systems including unmanned surface, aerial and underwater vehicles alongside towed sonars and mine identification and neutralization remotely operated vehicles.

Design and development

In early 2018, the Belgian and Dutch Nnvies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint construction and financing of the ships. A list of requirements was drawn up for the new vessels. Contenders in the race were:

• The Franco-Belgium consortium made up of French shipbuilders STX France and Socarenam together with Belgium's EDR are bidding for the 12 new MCM vessels. Their plan includes the construction of MCM vessels named Sea Naval Solutions and a multi-role frigate named Deviceseas, which will serve as mothership to the MCM vessels. All ships will have a strong focus on autonomous systems operations.
• France's Naval Group and ECA Group [fr] established Belgian subsidiary Naval & Robotics and bid for the program.
• Imtech Belgium and Damen Group bid for the program.

The contract was won by Naval Group on 15 March 2019.

The new vessels take a new approach to their task. Instead of clearing mines directly from the ship, the ship uses unmanned systems to do this from a distance.

Construction

A first steel cutting ceremony for the first-in-class ship for the Belgian Navy was held on 19 July 2021, with the keel being laid on 30 November 2021. Delivery of the first ship to the Belgian Navy is anticipated in 2024 and to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2025. The first ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy started on the 4 March 2022, with a steel cutting ceremony. The keel was laid on 14 June 2022.

On 8 May 2024, the Belgian Ministry of Defence announced that contractor Belgium Naval & Robotics requested a delay to the construction of the first four vessels citing unforeseen circumstances. The delay caused the first vessel, Oostende, to be delivered eight months later than initially planned, pushing her commissioning back to 2025. The second vessel, Vlissingen, is to be five-to-six months delayed, with Tournai and Scheveningen also seeing delays of two and one month(s) respectively.

In July 2024, it was reported that the first mine countermeasures vessel, Oostende, had begun its sea trials.

Equipment

Mission bay

The deployment system for the RHIB and the unmanned surface vessel was developed by Naval Group. The mission bay is to be equipped with the "Launch and recovery system"(LARS).

Drones

Surface vessels

The ECA Group [fr] INSPECTOR 125 unmanned surface vessel was ordered to be a centerpiece of the system. It has a low signature (magnetic and acoustic) which would prevent a mine from being triggered. The vessel is also designed to be unsinkable. Its mission is focused on communications and deployment of the drones. This vessel can be deployed from the mission bay by a handling system.

Operators

Future operators

 Belgium (6)

Belgium gave the green-light to start the procurement on 26 January 2018 and approved a budget of 1.1 billion euros for the six Belgian MCM ships. Besides the Tripartite-class minehunters, the ships will also replace the Belgian logistical support ship Godetia.

 Netherlands (6)

Contract for the MCM vessels in collaboration with Belgium in 2019, critical design review passed in June 2020.

Potential operators

 France

At Euronaval 2022, a partnership was signed between the Belgian, Dutch and French navies to enhance cooperation between them. As a result, the French Navy intends to order six vessels based on the City-class design to fulfill the role of BDGM motherships planned in the ongoing SLAM-F mine warfare program.

Ships in class

Name	No.	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm.	Status	Notes
Belgian Navy City class
Oostende	M-940	Piriou Concarneau [fr]	30 Nov 2021	29 Mar 2023	Aug 2025	Sea trials	Initially planned for December 2024
Tournai	M-941		29 Mar 2023	2 Jul 2024	Mar 2026	Fitting out	Initially planned for January 2026
Brugge	M-942		31 Jan 2024	–	Dec 2026	Under construction
Liège	M-943		–	–	Dec 2027	–
Antwerpen	M-944		–	–	Dec 2028	–
Rochefort	M-945		–	–	Dec 2029	–
Royal Netherlands Navy Vlissingen class
Vlissingen	M-840	Kership Lorient [fr]	14 Jun 2022	29 Sep 2023	End 2025	Under construction	Initially planned for June 2025
Scheveningen	M-841	Shipyard ATG Giurgiu (hull) ECA Group [fr] Kership Lorient [fr] (fitting out)	19 Jul 2023	5 Nov 2024	July 2026	Under construction	Initially planned for June 2026
IJmuiden	M-842		11 Jun 2024	–	June 2027	Under construction
Harlingen	M-843		–	–	June 2028	–
Delfzijl	M-844		–	–	June 2029	–
Schiedam	M-845		–	–	June 2030	–

See also

• Minehunter classes in service
• Future of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Footnotes

1. Unit cost is based on the May 2019 €2 billion contract for 12 systems for the Belgian Naval Component and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

References

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2. "Eerste kiel nieuwe mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen voor Nederland en België gelegd". Marineschepen. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
3. ^ Gain, Nathan (2024-05-13). "Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine warfare program facing delays". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
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5. ^ "ABC selected for the new Belgian and Dutch Navy Mine Counter Measures Vessel Programme (MCMV)". abc-engines. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
6. . exail https://www.exail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/exailbrochuremine-countermeasuresweb.pdf. Retrieved 2024-11-14. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. "Naval Group launches the first mine countermeasure vessel of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme and lays the keel for the third one". exail. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
8. ^ "Belgian & Royal Netherlands Navies prepare to receive robotic autonomous systems in 3rd generation MCM programme". exail. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
9. ^ "Euronaval 2024 – Naval Group and Exail partnership presents its unmanned MCM toolbox and mothership solution". edrmagazine. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
10. ^ "Belgium Naval & Robotics selects iXblue for the forefront sonars and inertial navigation system for 12 mine countermeasures vessels of the Belgium and The Royal Netherlands Navies". naval-group. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
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13. "Saab TactiCall communication system gets aboard Belgian-Dutch MCM program". navalnews. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
14. "NATO awards Exail Robotics Belgium a €60 million contract for underwater mine disposal vehicles". exail. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
15. "Patria to deliver Acoustic Minesweeping Systems to the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies in collaboration with Belgium Naval & Robotics". patriagroup. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
16. "Exail Selects ST Engineering iDirects Manufacturing Competence Center as Strategic Partner for Belgian-Dutch Navy Program". stengg. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
17. "BAE Systems 40Mk4 Naval Guns Selected For Belgian And Dutch RMCM Program", Naval News, 2021
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22. ^ "France's Naval Group clinches Belgian-Dutch minehunter replacement contract". Naval Today. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
23. ^ Scott, Richard (15 March 2019). "Naval Group team selected for BE/NL MCM programme". Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
24. Defensie, Ministerie van (2021-11-30). "Mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen krijgen naam havenplaatsen - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-08-13.
25. "First Steel Cutting Ceremony For Dutch-Belgian MCM Program". Naval News. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
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28. "Belgian-Dutch rMCM program: First sea trials begin for mine countermeasures vessel Oostende". Army Recognition. 18 July 2024.
29. ^ "Le VN Rebel va servir aux essais du drone Inspector 125 d'ECA | Mer et Marine". www.meretmarine.com (in French). 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
30. Karremann, Jaime (27 January 2018). "Groen licht voor aanschaf zes nieuwe mijnenjagers voor België" [Green light for the purchase of six new mine hunters for Belgium]. marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
31. Vavasseur, Xavier (2020-06-29). "Belgian-Dutch Mine Counter Measure (MCM) Program Achieves New Milestone". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
32. "Frankrijk wil (bijna) zelfde mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen als Nederland en België" (in Dutch). Marineschepen. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
33. "Mine Warfare: France, Belgium And Netherlands Seal Partnership". Naval News. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
34. "Eerste kiel nieuwe mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen voor Nederland en België gelegd". Marineschepen. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
35. ^ "Tewaterlating nieuw Belgisch mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig in Frankrijk, bouw volgend Nederlands schip in Roemenië". Marineschepen. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
36. Bahtić, Fatima (19 July 2024). "First vessel of Belgian-Dutch rMCM program conducts sea trials". Naval Today. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
37. "Launching Of The Tournai, Third Mine Countermeasure Vessel Of The Belgian-Dutch RMCM Programme". Naval News. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
38. "Belgian Navy celebrates keel laying of 3rd mine countermeasure vessel BNS Brugge". Army Recognition. 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
39. "Kiel van nieuw mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Vlissingen gelegd - eerste van nieuwe klasse". Marineschepen. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
40. "City- en Vlissingenklasse mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen (België en Nederland)". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
41. "Bouw mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Vlissingen begonnen". Marineschepen. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
42. Koninklijke Marine (19 July 2023). "De bouw van het toekomstige mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Zr.Ms. Scheveningen is gestart" (Tweet) (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 July 2023 – via Twitter.
43. Mariska Buitendijk (7 November 2024). "Fourth Mine Countermeasure Vessel launched, steel cut for number eight". SWZ|Maritime.
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Further reading

• Peruzzi, Luca (2024). "Countering mines at sea: An overview of main European programmes". EDR Magazine. No. 74. EDR Online. pp. 4–13.
• Margés, Joost (April 2021). "NS50 kijkt 4-dimensionaal". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Koninklijke Marine.

v t e City-class mine countermeasures vessels
Belgian Navy	Oostende Tournai Brugge Liège Antwerpen Rochefort
Royal Netherlands Navy Vlissingen class	Vlissingen Scheveningen IJmuiden Harlingen Delfzijl Schiedam
Preceded by: Tripartite class Followed by: None

v t e Warships of the Netherlands
Cruisers Coastal defense ships Destroyers Frigates Gunboats Ironclads Monitors Minelayers Minesweepers Ships of the line Submarines Torpedo boats

v t e Ships of the Belgian Naval Component
Karel Doorman-class frigates	Leopold I Louise-Marie
Tripartite-class minehunters	Aster Bellis Crocus Lobelia Narcis Primula
Castor-class patrol vessels	Castor Pollux
Auxiliary vessels	Zenobe Gramme Spich Werl

• Mine warfare vessel classes
• Minehunters of Belgium
• Minehunters of the Netherlands