French Navy joins Belgian-Dutch minehunter programme

After the keel was laid shortly before the end of last year at Kership in Concarneau/South Brittany (part of Naval Group) for the first construction of the twelve-unit Belgian-Dutch minehunter programme, the French Navy has now also joined the programme at Euronaval. The aim is to promote cost-reducing commonalities and interoperability of mine defence systems along the Western European coast. In particular, France intends to model the design of its new minehunter on that of the binational platform. A contract for the construction is expected to be signed next year, although a delivery date still needs to be discussed, as the Belgian and Dutch boats are to be launched first. And they are no small feat: almost 83 metres long and displacing 2,800 tonnes, they offer space for a large number of drones and robots for mine defence. The binational concept also seems to be convincing France in the overdue and urgent replacement of its 40-year-old Tripartite class - perhaps it is just the updated obligations of the reawakened alliance and national defence that are sending their regards.