Belgian and Dutch navies invest 60m euros in underwater drones to disarm mines
The Belgian and Dutch navies have ordered nearly 60 million euros worth of underwater drones from French group Exail Technologies, L'Echo reports. The drones, made in Ostend, will be used to disarm underwater mines.
The order involves "several hundred K-STER drones, enabling the navies to carry out comprehensive demining missions", Exail Technologies said in a press release.
K-STER drones operate in the final phase of missions to neutralise underwater threats previously identified by other drones made by Exail. The "consumable" drones are equipped with an explosive device and a rotating warhead, which are destroyed during the process of neutralising a mine.
The small underwater robots will be mass-produced at the drone assembly site in Ostend, which opened in 2022. The order includes the supply of drones and spare parts, as well as maintenance.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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