The Belgian and Dutch Navies have commissioned underwater drones worth €60 million from French weapons developer Exail Technologies, l'Echo reported on Friday.
Belgium and the Netherlands have purchased "several hundred K-STER drones" to the value of €60 million, the largest order Exail Technologies has ever received for the product. The drones detect mines underwater and will allow naval fleets to carry out "comprehensive de-mining operations," according to the company.
K-STER drones are deployed in the final phase of missions to neutralise underwater threats that have been detected by other drones within the Single Management System (Umis), also developed by Exail. These disposable drones carry an explosive charge, equipped with a controllable head, and are destroyed in the mine neutralisation process.
The drones will be mass-produced in Ostend, where an assembly site was established in 2022. The order includes delivery and spare parts as well as maintenance and upgrades.
Belgium and the Netherlands entered into a similar agreement in May 2019 when they ordered 12 de-mining vessels – six each. The vessels were provided by ECA Group, which at the time comprised Exail Technologies and another French developer Naval Group.
