First new Belgian minehunter arrives in Zeebrugge
A new minehunter, purchased by Belgium, arrived at the Zeebrugge naval base on Monday afternoon. Senior defence officials and Defence minister Theo Francken were present for the occasion.
The M940 is the first of twelve new mine countermeasure vessels ordered by Belgium and the Netherlands to replace their outdated current mine hunters. Six of these vessels are destined for the Belgian navy.
These 80-metre vessels are unique in that they can operate outside the danger zone by deploying drones to detect and destroy mines.
"It's a big day for us," said Fanny Georges, commander of Belgium's naval mine warfare group. The new vessel has "all the modern technology and comforts expected of a professional navy", she said.
Delayed delivery
The delivery of the first vessel was initially planned for the end of 2024, but was delayed due to the "exceptional complexity" of the vessel's technology, the ministry of Defence said in July. The minehunter also sustained damage during a test in May.
The contract to design and construct the minehunters was awarded to Belgium Naval & Robotics in 2019. The second ship, destined for the Netherlands, is scheduled for delivery in December, while the third vessel is expected in September 2026.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS
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