Exail Robotics Belgium Secures NATO Contract for Underwater Mine Neutralization Systems.

Exail Robotics Belgium has been awarded a €60 million contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to supply underwater mine neutralization vehicles, including operational K-Ster C vehicles, K-Ster CT training units, and associated equipment. These systems are intended for use by the Belgian and Dutch navies as part of modernizing their mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities. The company made this announcement on August 27, 2024.
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The K-STER C is a lightweight, expendable underwater mine neutralization vehicle designed specifically for underwater mine warfare missions. (Picture source: Exail)

The production of the K-Ster units will take place at Exail’s facility in Oostende, Belgium. Inaugurated in 2022, this facility serves as a key hub for the manufacture of advanced drone technologies used by the Belgian and Dutch navies, supporting the region's MCM modernization program.

Antony Penn, Chief Commercial Officer at Exail, expressed his satisfaction with the new contract, stating, "We are proud to continue supporting the Belgian and Dutch navies, as well as NATO allies, with our advanced mine neutralization technology. This contract confirms our commitment to providing innovative and reliable solutions for MCM operations. With our purpose-built facilities in Oostende, we are well-equipped to meet the requirements of this new order."

The K-STER C is a lightweight, expendable underwater mine neutralization vehicle designed specifically for underwater mine warfare missions. Developed by ECA Group in 2008, this system allows for the remote neutralization of a sea mine while keeping crews safely outside the minefield. The K-STER C features an intuitive command and control software that provides auto-piloting functions, ensuring safe operations from deployment to final detonation.

Equipped with a shaped charge housed in a tiltable head, this vehicle can precisely target and neutralize the mine. Its unique design makes it ideal for eliminating various types of mines, including seabed mines, floating mines, historical mines, and even the most sophisticated types. Its innovative propulsion system allows it to operate in strong marine currents, approaching mines with high precision.

The K-STER C stands out for its ability to operate in challenging maritime conditions, including currents of up to 4 knots, and to neutralize partially buried mines. It integrates a powerful shaped charge, made of a highly insensitive explosive similar to those used in torpedoes, ensuring the destruction of modern mines. The system also features advanced safety characteristics, such as insensitive munitions and multipolar safety locks, which are only deactivated at the moment of final detonation.

Designed to NATO standards, the K-STER C has been developed and qualified to meet strict safety requirements for underwater munitions. Its design significantly reduces acoustic and magnetic signatures, ensuring optimal discretion during operations. This vehicle is currently in service with 20 navies worldwide and was selected in 2019 by the Belgian and Dutch navies as part of their MCM modernization program.

The K-STER C can also be integrated into a collaborative drone system, such as ECA Group's UMISTM, allowing for automatic deployment from unmanned surface vessels (USVs). These mine neutralization systems can be deployed from platforms such as the INSPECTOR 90, 120, and 125. All operations are managed via the UMISOFTTM software, providing a common interface to plan, execute, and analyze missions with ease, enabling the simultaneous use of several drones for comprehensive mine countermeasure operations.

The system can also be integrated into Exail's Unmanned Mine Countermeasure Integrated System (UMIS), which includes unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), towed vehicles, and remotely operated mine identification and disposal vehicles (MIDS ROV).