EU nations launch future Maritime Mine Counter Measures project

Five European member states have kicked off work on future Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) project, which is aimed at setting up the next generation (NG) of mine countermeasures vessels.

The latest move comes after the involved nations signed a deal at the European Defence Agency during a Steering Board of the Capabilities Directors.

Led by Germany, the MMCM-NG project, running through 2017, also involves Belgium, Estonia, the Netherlands and Sweden as well as Norway.

During planned duration of 36 months, the involved member states will work on a set of common constraints in a bid to prepare the future generation of mine countermeasures vessels and systems that could be activated in the 2030 timeframe.

By the end of the three-year project, member states would have accumulated adequate information to opt for the potential launch of a procurement phase for new systems.

Future MMCM capabilities are anticipated to offer more flexibility through a modular ‘toolbox’ including different systems compliant with a range of different platforms, environmental, or operational states.

As part of the project, use of unmanned vehicles will also be developed and also roll out new detection techniques.

Ultimately, several technical solutions will be weighed based on the diverse national requirements, and standards, protocols as well as interfaces would also be illustrated and agreed upon commonly in a bid to assure future interoperability.