Netherlands’ First Mine Warfare Mothership Begins Sea Trials, Marking a New Era in Naval Mine Countermeasures
The Royal Netherlands Navy has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its mine warfare capabilities as Vlissingen, the first mine warfare mothership built for the Netherlands under the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme, began its maiden sea trials on March 27, 2025. Departing from Concarneau, France, the vessel is undergoing rigorous testing to assess its propulsion system, maneuverability, and overall performance before delivery at the end of 2025.
A Technological Leap in Mine Warfare
Designed under the leadership of Belgium Naval & Robotics—a consortium of Naval Group and Exail—the rMCM (Replacement Mine Countermeasures) programme represents a major advancement in European defense collaboration. These next-generation mine warfare motherships are engineered to conduct mine countermeasure operations with minimal human intervention, utilizing a sophisticated network of unmanned systems.
What sets these vessels apart is their ability to deploy and coordinate a variety of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, aerial drones, and mine neutralization systems. With a length of 82.6 meters, displacement of 2,800 tons, and a range exceeding 3,500 nautical miles, the Vlissingen and her sister ships are designed to operate in hazardous environments while keeping their crew safe from direct exposure to underwater threats.
Strategic Deployment and Fleet Expansion
The rMCM programme includes twelve vessels, six each for the Belgian and Dutch navies, all scheduled for delivery by 2030. The first vessel, Oostende, intended for Belgium, is currently undergoing combat system trials, with delivery expected by mid-2025. Following this, Tournai, another Belgian ship, will begin its sea trials by the end of summer 2025. Meanwhile, Scheveningen, the second Dutch mothership, was launched in November 2024 and is on track for further trials.
Each of these vessels serves as a central hub for unmanned mine-hunting operations, replacing traditional manned minesweepers and significantly improving the efficiency and safety of naval mine clearance. By leveraging Exail’s UMISOFT software suite and an array of autonomous systems—including unmanned surface vehicles, autonomous underwater drones, and mine identification and disposal systems—the new MCM motherships can clear minefields up to ten times faster than conventional methods.
A European Defense Collaboration with Global Impact
Naval Group and Exail have brought together multiple European industrial players to execute this ambitious project. The ships are constructed by Kership and Chantier Piriou, under the industrial oversight of Kership—a joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou. Exail, headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, is responsible for the production and maintenance of the unmanned mine warfare systems, ensuring the vessels remain at the cutting edge of maritime security technology.
Beyond their autonomous mine clearance capability, these vessels are built to withstand underwater explosions and feature low acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures, making them stealthy and resilient in high-threat environments. Their modular design allows for rapid integration of future technological advancements, ensuring they remain relevant in evolving naval warfare scenarios.
With the Vlissingen now undergoing sea trials, the Netherlands is set to revolutionize its naval mine countermeasures fleet, replacing outdated minesweepers with a highly automated, cyber-secure, and mission-flexible platform. This milestone not only strengthens Dutch and Belgian naval cooperation but also underscores Europe’s commitment to maintaining a robust and technologically advanced maritime defense network. As the rMCM programme progresses, these state-of-the-art vessels will play a critical role in securing international waters, ensuring safe maritime navigation, and countering modern mine threats more efficiently than ever before.
