First steel cut for the future MCM vessels of Belgium and Netherlands.

According to a tweet published by Dick Kreiter, Project Director of DMO, on July 19, 2021, the steel cutting ceremony of the first Mine Countermeasures vessel of the Belgian and Dutch Navies was held in Concarneau.
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First steel cut of the first MCM vessel at Concarneau, France (Picture source: Twitter account of Dick Kreiter)

Belgium Naval & Robotics offers a 2800-ton militarized ship specialized in mine warfare with military characteristics (acoustic and electromagnetic discretion, shock resistance) perfectly adapted to the operational use targeted by the Belgian and Dutch navies.

FN Herstal will equip the 12 MCMV with Sea deFNder® Remote Weapon Stations featuring 12.7mm FN® M2HB-QCB machine guns.

The Sea deFNder is small caliber stabilized Remote Weapon Station (RWS) or Remotely Controlled Operated Weapon Station especially developed and designed to be used on sea conditions ant that can be mounted on ships or vessels.

This is the third model in the deFNder® remote weapon stations range, produced by the world’s leading firearms manufacturer, FN Herstal. Engineered for use by naval forces and coastguards, it follows the innovative deFNder® Light and the deFNder® Medium into global service.

The Naval Remote Weapon Station (RWS) Sea deFNder is already in service with the Belgian Navy mounted on P901 Castor en P902 Pollux Coastal Patrol Vessel.

Two Sea deFNder will be mounted on the new mine counter measures (MCM) vessels, one mine counter measures (MCM), one on the port-side bridge wing while the second RWS is found at the stern, starboard side, on a dedicated platform placed right below the helicopter deck and above the aft deck.