The mine countermeasure vessel Vlissingen was delivered on February 27, 2026, in Den Helder, marking progress in the binational rMCM program between Belgium and the Netherlands.
The vessel is the second in its class and the first designated for the Royal Netherlands Navy, consolidating a new chapter in European naval cooperation.
The project is led by the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, which brings together Naval Group and Exail. Military authorities and company executives highlighted that the delivery symbolizes an unprecedented level of trust between the two countries, as Belgium, acting as the lead nation of the program, coordinated the construction of a ship for the Dutch navy — an achievement considered historic within BeNeSam cooperation.
Vlissingen represents a paradigm shift in mine warfare by operating with fully unmanned systems, keeping the crew at a safe distance from threats. The vessel is capable of carrying and deploying surface, underwater, and aerial drones, in addition to employing robotic systems to detect, classify, and neutralize mines. According to program officials, the method can increase operational speed tenfold compared to traditional models.
Measuring 82.6 meters in length and displacing 2,800 tons, the ship was designed to withstand underwater explosions and operate with reduced acoustic, electrical, and magnetic signatures. Included in a tripartite agreement signed in 2023 between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, the rMCM program strengthens European industrial and military integration, while also contributing to NATO’s operational readiness in the maritime domain.
Source: Naval News | Photo: X @kon_marine | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Het nieuwe mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Vlissingen is aangekomen in Den Helder. Als eerste schip van de Vlissingen-klasse markeert het een nieuwe werkwijze: met onbemande systemen boven, op en onder water mijnen opsporen en onschadelijk maken terwijl het schip op afstand blijft. ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/8WzUQ0YOQH
— Koninklijke Marine (@kon_marine) February 27, 2026
